This is known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If a person experiences shortness of breath, an abnormal heart rhythm or edema these could be signs of an enlarged heart and be a reason for your doctor to conduct further tests.
The diagnosis of an enlarged heart can be made by x-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress test, CT scan or an MRI. Treatment for an enlarged heart may include taking medications that are prescribed once the cause of the condition has been determined.
It is also possible that treatment may require heart valve surgery, coronary bypass surgery, and a heart transplant. Heart disease - enlarged heart. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of an enlarged heart Causes of enlarged heart Diagnosis of enlarged heart Treatment of enlarged heart Where to get help. The range of underlying problems that can lead to an enlarged heart may be: pathological — linked to actual disease of the heart muscle physiological — linked to other causes that are overworking the heart muscle, such as high blood pressure or thyroid diseases.
Symptoms of an enlarged heart In some cases, an enlarged heart is asymptomatic has no symptoms. Symptoms may include: breathing problems shortness of breath dizziness irregular heartbeat arrhythmia heart palpitations fluid retention. Causes of enlarged heart Some of the many causes of enlarged heart include: coronary artery disease — fatty deposits or plaques build up inside one or more of the coronary heart arteries. This reduces the oxygen supply, which is the fuel for the pump high blood pressure hypertension — blood pumps with more force than usual through the arteries, which puts strain on the heart.
Causes of high blood pressure include obesity and a sedentary lifestyle idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy — disease of the heart muscle, the cause of which is unknown. The most common symptom patients get with cardiomyopathy is shortness of breath and swelling of the ankles.
Rarer symptoms include dizziness and chest pain myocarditis — an infection of the heart that is generally caused by a virus. A person may have a viral illness first and later have symptoms of congestive heart failure heart valve disease — for example, a faulty mitral valve allows blood to flow backwards, which means the affected heart chamber has to contract with more force than usual cardiac ischaemia — reduced blood flow to the heart. This condition can cause heart pain angina previous heart attack — a weakened heart muscle may enlarge in order to keep up with the demands of pumping blood around the body thyroid disease — the thyroid gland regulates many metabolic functions.
Untreated, a thyroid condition can lead to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, irregular heartbeat and enlargement of the heart obesity — carrying too much body fat is a risk factor for high blood pressure, which in turn can cause the heart to enlarge lack of exercise — leading a sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for a range of conditions, including coronary heart disease and high blood pressure old age — as we get older, our arteries lose some of their elasticity.
The term "cardiomegaly" refers to an enlarged heart seen on any imaging test, including a chest X-ray. Other tests are then needed to diagnose the condition that's causing the heart to be enlarged. An enlarged heart may be the result of a short-term stress on the body, such as pregnancy, or a medical condition, such as the weakening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems or abnormal heart rhythms.
Certain conditions may cause the heart muscle to become thicker or cause one of the chambers of the heart to dilate, making the heart larger. Depending on the condition, an enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent. An enlarged heart may be treatable by correcting the cause. Treatment for an enlarged heart can include medications, medical procedures or surgery. In some people, an enlarged heart causes no signs or symptoms.
Others may have these signs and symptoms:. An enlarged heart is easier to treat when it's detected early, so talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your heart.
Seek emergency medical care if you have any of these signs and symptoms, which may mean you're having a heart attack:.
If you have new signs or symptoms that might be related to your heart, make an appointment to see your doctor. An enlarged heart can be caused by conditions that cause your heart to pump harder than usual or that damage your heart muscle. Sometimes the heart gets larger and becomes weak for unknown reasons. This is known as idiopathic cardiomegaly.
A heart condition you're born with congenital , damage from a heart attack or an abnormal heartbeat arrhythmia can cause your heart to enlarge. Other conditions associated with an enlarged heart include:.
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