Welcome, Dee. My wife has an exceedingly complex medical history, and she's a walking pharmacy. Her BP has been high over the years, and nobody has suggested she should have an echo or MRI to see if she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I wouldn't be surprised, though, that by now she has some definite enlargement.

It boils down to keeping both the systolic and diastolic pressures as low as possible, even if it takes medication, rest, low stress....whatever it takes will help you to live longer. The systolic pressure is the 'pumping' pressure where the left ventricle contracts forcefully to expel oxygen-laden blood up the curved aorta and then to the body. It's the first, and highest number. Numbers higher than about 130-140 become concerning because, across large numbers of patience over many years, numbers above those indicate a left ventricle that is contracting too hard....for its own good...and yours. The diastolic pressure is the fully relaxed state, where the left ventricle is relaxed and 'reloading' for the next contraction. You ideally want that low as well as relaxed pressure that is too high can begin to damage optic nerves and the kidneys, as but two examples.

You are strongly motivated to succeed, and I think your physicians should understand that you're willing to do what it takes. It may mean substantial lifestyle changes, some of which can be burdensome to a senior. But, if you want to live, and hopefully to live WELL, you'll have to push hard to claw back some heart health. It can be done with the right procedures, and in some cases the ventricle will subside in thickness as a result....not very much, but enough that it signals a return to cardiac health. From there, you monitor yourself every two or three months in case there's a slow buildup again.

Good luck, and try to be optimistic. You're not on death's doorstep....not even close.