An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) can be caused by damage to the heart muscle or any condition that makes the heart pump harder than usual, including pregnancy. Sometimes the heart gets larger and becomes weak for unknown reasons. This condition is called idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
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 an enlarged heart go back to normal?
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.
What are the symptoms of heart enlargement?
If it becomes unable to pump blood well enough, you may get symptoms of congestive heart failure, such as:
- Shortness of breath (especially when active or when lying flat)
- Leg swelling.
- Weight gain, particularly in your midsection.
- Tired feeling.
- Palpitations or skipped heartbeats.
How do you fix enlarged heart?
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 an enlarged heart treatable?
An enlarged heart, also is called cardiomegaly or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, is a condition that occurs when a heart becomes enlarged or dilated by factors such as infection, stress, or as a result of other heart conditions. People often need treatment for this condition throughout the rest of their life.
Can an enlarged heart cause sudden death?
Some conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death in young people are: Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people is this genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to grow too thick.
What foods help an enlarged heart?
eating a heart-healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean poultry, fish, low fat dairy, and whole grains. limiting salt and saturated and trans fats.
Can high blood pressure cause enlarged heart?
Summary. An enlarged heart isn’t a condition in itself, but a symptom of an underlying problem that is causing the heart to work harder than normal. Some of the many causes include coronary heart disease, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure and heart valve disease.
Can losing weight help an enlarged heart?
People who lose weight actually improve their hearts by decreasing the thickness of the heart muscle, and that probably lowers their risk for heart failure, he added. Weight gain in the belly, where fat accumulates around the organs, may produce hormones that can harm the heart and cause inflammation, Neeland said.
Does your heart enlarge as you age?
The chambers of your heart may increase in size. The heart wall thickens, so the amount of blood that a chamber can hold may decrease despite the increased overall heart size. The heart may fill more slowly.
Can an enlarged heart be reversed naturally?
With certain conditions, such as congestive heart failure, complete reversal of the enlargement of the heart may not be possible. But with other conditions, such as pregnancy or a treatable infection, a complete reversal of the condition may be possible.
Is heart enlargement hereditary?
Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a fairly common inherited heart condition that can affect people of any age. This disease can thicken part or all of the heart muscle. In extreme cases, it can even cause sudden death.
Can alcohol cause enlarged heart?
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a condition where consuming too much alcohol damages your heart. This damage happens because parts of your heart stretch and enlarge. That weakens your heart muscle, keeping it from pumping as well as it should.
What is a mild enlarged heart?
In mild cardiomegaly, the heart is slightly bigger than your fist. Mild cardiomegaly can be caused by high blood pressure, heart valve diseases, blood disorders, drug or alcohol use, and inherited conditions. It can also occur during pregnancy but typically reverses after the baby is born.
What foods should heart patients avoid?
- Full-fat milk and other dairy products.
- Organ meats, such as liver.
- Fatty and marbled meats.
- Spareribs.
- Hot dogs and sausages.
- Bacon.
- Fried or breaded meats.
Can anxiety cause left atrial enlargement?
The findings of this analysis provide evidence that acute mental stress results in adverse changes in PTFV1 and the development of left atrial abnormality on the 12-lead ECG in persons with CHD. Women and patients with heart failure were more susceptible to these adverse changes.
What is the best medicine for the heart?
The Big 6 Heart Medications
- Statins — to lower LDL cholesterol.
- Aspirin — to prevent blood clots.
- Clopidogrel — to prevent blood clots.
- Warfarin — to prevent blood clots.
- Beta-blockers — to treat heart attack and heart failure and sometimes used to lower blood pressure.
How many years can you live with an enlarged heart?
The life expectancy for congestive heart failure depends on the cause of heart failure, its severity, and other underlying medical conditions. In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years.
Does being overweight cause an enlarged heart?
Summary: Excessive body weight is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, a thickening of the heart muscle in the left ventricle, the heart’s pumping chamber. The largest study of its kind helps explain why excessive body weight increases the risk for heart disease.
Can ECG detect enlarged heart?
An ECG done while you’re having symptoms can help your health care provider determine whether reduced blood flow to the heart muscle is causing the chest pain. Heart structure changes. An ECG can provide clues about an enlarged heart, heart defects and other heart problems.