what is the course of treatment for an enlarged heart

Medication

• If you’re a smoker, quit smoking. ...
• If you’re obese or overweight, lose some weight. ...
• If you have diabetes, manage your blood sugars, as uncontrolled blood sugars can cause all sorts of health problems and lead to the development of heart problems. ...
• Control any other comorbidities you may have. ...
• Add more physical activity to your lifestyle.

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Procedures

Method 4 Method 4 of 4: Medication Options

1. Take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. When you are diagnosed with a condition that causes an enlarged heart, your doctor may prescribe you ACE inhibitors.
2. Treat heart tissue scarring with diuretics. If you have an enlarged heart, especially if it due to cardiomyopathy, your doctor may prescribe diuretics.
3. Use beta-blockers. ...

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Nutrition

To treat an enlarged heart, you should try to eat foods low in salt, fat, and cholesterol, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, which help reduce your blood pressure. You should also try to do regular cardio exercise like walking or swimming, as this will help treat the underlying causes of your enlarged heart.

How do you shrink an enlarged heart?

Yes, an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) can pose a serious threat by increasing the risk of heart failure or stroke. This is because the heart has greater difficulty pumping blood. If the enlarged heart is due to pregnancy or strenuous exercise, it may return to its normal size. But most underlying causes will require treatment.

How to treat and manage an enlarged heart?

How do you treat an enlarged heart?

How dangerous can having a slightly enlarged heart be?

How is an enlarged heart treated?

Surgery or other procedures to treat an enlarged heart may include:Pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that's usually implanted near the collarbone. ... Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). ... Heart valve surgery. ... Coronary bypass surgery. ... Left ventricular assist device (LVAD). ... Heart transplant.

Is having an enlarged heart serious?

Over time, an enlarged heart can cause serious health problems. Most notably, it can increase the risk of sudden death. In addition, it can cause fluid to build up in the body and lungs, which can lead to heart failure.

Can enlarged heart be cured?

Depending on the condition, an enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent. Treatment for an enlarged heart may include medications, medical procedures or surgery.

Can you live a normal life with an enlarged heart?

It may not pump blood effectively, which can cause congestive heart failure. It may improve over time. But most people with an enlarged heart need lifelong treatment with medications.

Can an enlarged heart go back to normal size?

Some people have an enlarged heart because of temporary factors, such as pregnancy or an infection. In these cases, your heart will return to its usual size after treatment. If your enlarged heart is due to a chronic (ongoing) condition, it usually will not go away.

What is the life expectancy of someone with an enlarged heart?

The effect of an enlarged heart on life expectancy depends in part on the underlying cause. But even with treatment, many people have a downhill course. Most with severe heart disease die within a few years.

What is the most common cause of enlarged heart?

The most common causes of an enlarged heart are ischemic heart disease and high blood pressure. Ischemic heart disease occurs when narrowed arteries, caused by fatty deposits that build up in your arteries, prevent blood from getting to your heart.

What are the warning signs of an enlarged heart?

Symptomsshortness of breath.chest pain.heart palpitations (rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat)arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)dizziness.fainting.rapid exhaustion with physical activity.swelling.

What foods are good for an enlarged heart?

What are the best foods for heart health?Asparagus. Asparagus is a natural source of folate, which helps to prevent an amino acid called homocysteine from building up in the body. ... Beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils. ... Berries. ... Broccoli. ... Chia seeds and flaxseeds. ... Dark chocolate. ... Coffee. ... Fish high in omega-3s.More items...•

Can stress cause enlarged heart?

Contact. DURHAM, N.C. -- When judging whether or not an enlarged heart is healthy or potentially at risk for heart disease, the nature of the physiological stress that produced the enlargement is more important than the duration of the stress, according to a new study led by Duke University Medical Center investigators ...

Is an enlarged heart hereditary?

Cardiomegaly can be a hereditary problem, or it may develop if you have a condition that affects your heart function. Most of the time, cardiomegaly develops as a result of a medical condition.

What does a heart failure cough sound like?

You may experience a persistent cough or wheezing (a whistling sound in the lungs or laboured breathing) due to your heart failure. The wheezing is similar to asthma but has a different cause in heart failure.

How to prevent heart enlargement?

Yet you can prevent later damage to your heart that can make it enlarge by: eating a heart-healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, and whole grains. limiting salt, along with saturated and trans fats.

What does it mean when your heart is enlarged?

An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) means that your heart is bigger than normal. Your heart can become enlarged if the muscle works so hard that it thickens, or if the chambers widen. An enlarged heart isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom of a heart defect or condition that makes the heart work harder, such as cardiomyopathy, heart valve problems, ...

What is the condition that causes a hole in the heart?

Congenital conditions. Congenital cardiomegaly is a heart disorder you’re born with. Congenital heart defects that cause this symptom include: atrial septal defect, a hole in the wall separating the two upper chambers of the heart. ventricular septal defect, a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart.

Why does my heart get bigger?

Any disease that makes your heart work harder to pump blood through your body can cause an enlarged heart. Just as the muscles of your arms and legs get bigger when you work them, your heart gets bigger when you work it. The most common causes of an enlarged heart are ischemic heart disease and high blood pressure.

What is the term for a progressive heart disease?

Cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a progressive heart disease with several types. Diseases that damage the heart muscle can cause it to enlarge. The more damage that occurs, the weaker and less able to pump the heart becomes.

What is the first test to see if your heart is enlarged?

A chest X-ray may be the first test your doctor does because it can show whether your heart is enlarged. Tests like these can help your doctor find the cause of the enlargement: Echocardiogram (ECG or EKG) uses sound waves to look for problems with your heart’s chambers.

What is the name of the hole in the wall that separates the lower chambers of the heart?

ventricular septal defect, a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart. coarctation of the aorta, a narrowing of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. patent ductus arteriosus, a hole in the aorta.

What is an enlarged heart?

What's an enlarged heart? An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) refers to a heart that is bigger than typical. The heart may be unusually thick or dilated (stretched). An enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

What are the health risks of an enlarged heart?

The health risks of an enlarged heart depend on the cause. They also depend on which part of your heart is enlarged. Potential health complications from an enlarged heart can include: Blood clots, which can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism (clot in the lung).

Why does my heart get enlarged?

Some people may have an enlarged heart because of a temporary condition, such as pregnancy. Or underlying conditions , such as high blood pressure or cardiomyopathy, may lead to an enlarged heart. You can prevent cardiomegaly by living a healthy lifestyle and managing risk factors. Though an enlarged heart may not go away, ...

What are the best medications for heart disease?

Common heart medications include: Anti-arrhythmics to keep your heart beating in a normal rhythm. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower your blood pressure. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) to lower your blood pressure . Anticoagulants to reduce your risk of blood clots.

Why does my heart get bigger?

Some people have an enlarged heart because of temporary factors, such as pregnancy or an infection. In these cases, your heart will return to its usual size after treatment. If your enlarged heart is due to a chronic (ongoing) condition, it usually will not go away.

What is the purpose of an echocardiogram?

Echocardiogram to evaluate and create an image of your heartbeat and blood flow. Electrocardiogram (EKG) to study your heart’s electrical activity. Exercise stress test, raising your heart rate with medicine or exercise to learn how your heart responds.

How to help your heart beat?

Implant a pacemaker to help your heart beat a steady rhythm. Place an implantable cardioverted-defibrillator (ICD), a device that can shock your heart back into rhythm. Repair or replace a damaged heart valve. Coronary artery bypass or stent placement.

How to reduce heart enlargement?

One of the main ways you can reduce the effects of an enlarged heart and help combat the underlying causes of the condition is through diet. You should eat foods low in saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol. You should incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy proteins into your diet.

What is an enlarged heart?

Experts say that an enlarged heart, also known as cardiomegaly, occurs when your heart is larger than what is considered normal. This condition is not a disease itself, but rather a condition that is brought on by other various diseases and conditions. [1]

What do doctors prescribe for blood clots?

If he is worried that you may be at risk for blood clots, your doctor may prescribe you anticoagulants. These medications reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to strokes or heart attacks. He may also prescribe anti-arrhythmics, which are medications designed to help keep your heart at a normal rhythm. [20]

How to treat scarring in heart?

These medications help lower the levels of water and sodium in the body and help decrease the thickness of your heart muscles. This medication may lower blood pressure.

What is an ICD for heart failure?

The ICD is a matchbox-sized device that helps the heart maintain its normal rhythms through electrical shocks.

What causes a heart to enlarge?

These include heart valve or heart muscle disease, arrhythmia, weakening of the heart muscle, fluid around your heart, high blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension.

What are the risk factors for an enlarged heart?

If you have high blood pressure, blocked arteries, congenital heart disease, valvular disease, or have had a heart attack. You are also at risk if your family has a history of enlarged hearts, since they tend to run in families.

What does it mean when your heart is enlarged?

Enlarged heart, in heart failure. As the heart weakens, as it can with heart failure, it begins to enlarge, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood on to the rest of the body. An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) isn't a disease, but rather a sign of another condition.

What are the complications of an enlarged heart?

Complications of an enlarged heart can include: Heart failure. An enlar ged left ventricle, one of the most serious types of enlarged heart, increases the risk of heart failure.

What causes the left ventricle to enlarge?

High blood pressure. Your heart may have to pump harder to deliver blood to the rest of your body, enlarging and thickening the muscle. High blood pressure can cause the left ventricle to enlarge, causing the heart muscle eventually to weaken. High blood pressure may also enlarge the upper chambers of your heart.

Why does my heart look enlarged on X-rays?

Accumulation of fluid in the sac that contains your heart may cause your heart to appear enlarged on a chest X-ray. Blocked arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease). With this condition, fatty plaque in your heart arteries obstruct blood flow through your heart vessels, which can lead to a heart attack.

What happens when your heart is in a dilated state?

In heart failure, your heart muscle weakens, and the ventricles stretch (dilate) to the point that the heart can't pump blood efficiently throughout your body. Blood clots. Having an enlarged heart may make you more susceptible to forming blood clots in the lining of your heart.

What are the four valves that open and close to direct blood flow through the heart?

Heart valve disease. The heart has four valves — aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid — that open and close to direct blood flow through your heart.

What is the condition where the heart pumps blood?

Cardiomyopathy. This disease of the heart makes it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. As it progresses, your heart may enlarge to try to pump more blood. High blood pressure in the artery that connects your heart and lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

What does it mean when your heart is enlarged?

An enlarged heart is usually a sign of an underlying medical issue that is causing the heart to have to grow in order to function properly. When a heart enlarges, it can follow one of two patterns: Either the walls of the heart can get thicker, or the chambers of the heart can enlarge and expand.

What are the symptoms of an enlarged heart?

There may, however, be warning signs, including the following: Fainting or seizure during or immediately after exercise. Unexplained shortness of breath.

How to tell if you have an enlarged heart?

One of the challenging aspects of identifying people with an enlarged heart is the fact that, often, people with an enlarged heart don’t experience any symptoms. While there are many possible symptoms caused by an enlarged heart, sometimes a cardiac arrest could be the first sign, which is why heart screenings are so important. There may, however, be warning signs, including the following: 1 Fainting or seizure during or immediately after exercise. 2 Unexplained shortness of breath. 3 Dizziness 4 Extreme fatigue. 5 Racing heart (feels like it is beating out of your chest). 6 Sudden and unexplained death of a family member under the age of 50 (e.g. drowning, auto accident, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)).

What is the best way to detect sudden cardiac arrest?

A heart screening, with a physical exam, thorough medical history, and ECG is the most effective way of detecting conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death if left untreated. Find a heart screening near you. Find a specialist near you. For more information about enlarged hearts, visit our Best Resources List.

Why does my heart get bigger?

As people get older, chronic underlying medical problems can gradually lead to enlargement of the heart. Any medical condition that increases the amount of force the heart has to generate to pump blood , or increases the amount of blood the heart has to pump, ...

Can a virus cause an enlarged heart?

It is also possible for certain viruses , drugs, and other chronic medical issues to cause an enlarged heart. Athletes can also be more susceptible to certain conditions with links to sudden cardiac arrest and death. The heart is a muscle, so just like a bicep or quadricep, the more it gets used, the bigger it can grow.

Can a clot of blood cause a heart attack?

In addition, it can cause fluid to build up in the body and lungs, which can lead to heart failure. It can also prompt blood clots to form in the heart and travel throughout the body, which – depending where the blood clots travel – can cause a stroke, heart attack, or severe damage to any other organ in the body.

What is enlarged heart?

An enlarged heart, also is called cardiomegaly or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, is a condition that occurs when a heart becomes enlarged by factors such as infection, stress, or other heart conditions. People often need treatment for this condition throughout the rest of their life. However, there is often no known cause of an enlarged heart.

How to control heart disease?

Monitor your blood pressure: Controlling blood pressure can help improve heart disease. Sleep eight hours each night: Enough rest is critical to better heart health. Take your medications as prescribed: If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, be certain to take medications as directed.

What is the difference between an EKG and an echocardiogram?

Electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect an enlarged heart as well as determine if a heart is overworked or damaged.

How long does it take to recover from heart valve surgery?

Full recovery may take 6-12 weeks.

What are the symptoms of a skipped heart?

Skipped heart beats or palpitations. Swelling of the leg. Fatigue. Weight gain around the abdomen. If you have the following enlarged heart symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately because you may be experiencing a heart attack: Chest pain. Severe difficulty breathing.

Why does my heart beat faster?

Anemia: A lack of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the blood can cause the heart to beat faster and enlarge the heart. Congenital heart disease: People can be born with a heart that has an abnormal structure that may cause an enlarged heart.

How long do you stay in hospital after heart transplant?

Once discharged, you must stay very close to the hospital for the first six weeks to maintain frequent follow-up visits and lab tests.

What is an enlarged heart?

What is Enlarged Heart? Enlarged heart refers to enlargement of either the heart chamber size or the heart muscle size in a process known as hypertrophy.

What is the process of enlarge heart?

This redistribution of wall stress leads the heart to enlarge over time in a process called remodeling.

What is the difference between aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation?

In aortic regurgitation, that same valve is leaky and there is a different type of stress in addition known as volume overload. Aortic regurgitation is somewhat unique in that there is pressure and volume overload leading to both enlarged heart chambers and thick heart muscle. In mitral regurgitation the mitral valve that separates ...

Why does the heart become thick?

The heart becomes thick to compensate in a form of enlarged heart called concentric hypertrophy. The thick heart, although pumps well, does not relax well and that can lead to heart failure, and if not treated in time can lead to severely reduced heart function and weak muscle. In aortic regurgitation, that same valve is leaky ...

What is the right sided enlarged heart?

The right side of the heart is not able to cope with large pressures in the same way the left side does, so in periods of stress it may enlarge and fail immediately.

Why does the heart enlarge when you lift weights?

If you go to the gym and lift weights, your muscles get bigger as a response to the weight and enlarge, its called hypertrophy . The heart enlarges in the same way; ultimately it’s about minimizing stress.

Is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a genetic disease?

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the heart is very thick. There is also a genetic component to an en larged heart known as dilated cardiomyopathy. This is different in that the walls of the heart are thin and the heart chamber sizes enlarge while the heart pumping function can severely diminish. Valve Disease and Enlarged Heart – Different heart valve ...

What does it mean when your heart is enlarged?

Clinically known as cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart is a sign of a heart that’s been weakened by injury or disease. “Cardiomegaly isn’t a disease, but rather a sign of another condition,” says Dr. Khalid Sheikh, a cardiologist with Health First Medical Group in Melbourne, Florida.

What causes a weak heart?

In response to this, the heart may enlarge and become weaker. Myocarditis. This inflammatory condition of the heart muscle can disrupt the heart’s electrical signaling, which can constrict the heart’s ability to pump blood and cause arrhythmias.

What is the most common cause of cardiomegaly?

Ischemic heart disease. “One of the most common causes of cardiomegaly is ischemic heart disease ,” Karas says. Also known as coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease or more generally as simply heart disease, ischemic heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S. today, responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths or about 610,000 deaths per year ...

Does alcohol affect the heart?

Long-term abuse of alcohol weakens the heart muscle, making it less effective at pumping blood. Hormonal changes. “Various hormone systems affect the heart function,” Hasan says, and hormonal disruptions can lead to a dilation or enlargement of the heart. This is why some women experience cardiomegaly during pregnancy.

Can cardiomegaly be detected on X-rays?

Diagnosis. Often, cardiomegaly is found incidentally, as part of a routine physical or treatment for another condition. It can be detected on X-rays, and when it is discovered, it’s important to see a cardiologist to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

Is it better to prevent or treat cardiomegaly?

As with any medical condition, prevention is always preferable to treatment, and it’s possible to reduce your chances of ever developing cardiomegaly by staying on top of your health, particularly if you have risk factors such as diabetes or heart disease.

Can cardiomegaly cause shortness of breath?

Symptoms. Although many patients may have no symptoms related to cardiomegaly, some people do have signs that could point to a problem. Carry says these symptoms may include “shortness of breath that’s out of proportion with the exertion level” and edema, or swelling, particularly of the lower legs.

What is enlarged heart?

An enlarged heart, also known as cardiomegaly, is a condition that occurs when the heart has to work harder as a result of stress, infection, or heart disease.

What are the consequences of an enlarged heart?

Dizzy spells or fainting. Radiating pain or discomfort originating in the shoulder and going down the arms, back, neck, or stomach. The most devastating consequences of an enlarged heart are sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack.

Why are people with cardiomegaly at risk for blood clots?

Blood clots: People with cardiomegaly are at risk of blood clots because blood flow becomes stagnated. Blood clots that enter the bloodstream not only impede blood flow but may also put you at higher risk of heart attack or stroke, especially if you have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications such as a history of diabetes, ...

How to diagnose cardiomegaly?

Cardiomegaly can be diagnosed via chest X-ray, but this is far from the best way to diagnose it. The chest X-ray may alert the physician to an enlarged heart, but the confirmatory, or true diagnosis, will come from additional, more specific testing such as an echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, or cardiac CT scan. 1.

What happens if your heart is enlarged?

Cardiac arrest and sudden death: An enlarged heart may disrupt the heart’s electrical system, which can lead to a cardiac arrest. This can sometimes result in sudden death. Heart failure: If the heart is so enlarged that it loses its ability to pump blood throughout the body, we call this heart failure.

What are the complications of a damaged heart muscle?

Complications. A damaged heart muscle can lead to stagnated blood flow, arrhythmias, and even death. Complications are most often due to dilated cardiomyopathy, a thinning of the ventricle walls that leads to an enlarged heart. The ventricles generate most of the pumping force of the heart.

Why does my heart enlarge?

An enlarged heart is usually the result of disease or health problems , but if the enlargement only lasts for a short while before returning to its normal size, there is likely a less ominous explanation—like pregnancy or a history of strenuous exercise.

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

Complications

Prevention

• If you have an enlarged heart or any type of heart disease, your health care provider will likely recommend following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Such a lifestyle typically includes: 1. Reducing or avoiding salt 2. Limiting saturated and trans fats 3. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods 4. Avoiding or limiting alcohol and caffe...

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