Enlarged Heart: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

An enlarged heart can either be pathological or physiological. While the former relates to a specific condition internally, the latter term relates to implications of exercise or some type of physical activity. An enlarged heart is typically seen during heart failure. The inability of the organ to pump the required volume of oxygenated blood causes it to enlarge. The condition is accompanied by shortness of breath, edema, dizziness and irregular heart pulse. The condition of enlarged heart or cardiomegaly is detected via x-ray and echocardiogram. The treatment options include dedicated beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.

Causes of Enlarged Heart:

The heart is the important oxygenator of blood within the body. Cell renewal and energizing takes place as the left and right auricle of the organ take in oxygen deprived blood and recycle fresh, oxygenated supply of the life enabling fluid. An enlarged heart is indicative of either an overworked organ or some underlying heart disease. The heart is exerted in both pathological or physiological conditions. The trigger could be some defect within the heart valves or prolonged, intense exercise. The overexertion caused in the endeavor to satiate the demands of the body, forces the heart to work harder, get stressed out and enlarge.

If neglected, the condition leads to the enlargement of the chambers, in order to process more blood. The heart is forced by the external and internal triggers to stretch to its limit. Such an hypertrophic heart leads to abnormal muscle fiber growth on the organ, which can also be genetic in nature. Sudden cardiac death is the result of this stress.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of enlarged heart include:

• Coronary artery and valve spasm and/or disease
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Cardiac ischemia
• Thyroid problems
• Anemia
• Sleep apnea
• Swelling
• Shortness of breath
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Palpitation

Treatment Options:

After researching on the diagnostic analysis of the condition, the treatment options need to be adopted immediately to avoid fatality in the form of cardiac arrest. Commonly, the diagnosis depends on the results of echocardiogram and X rays. These methods are supported by the results of stress tests designed to study the muscle thickness, function and size of the heart and function. The structure of the heart valves, potential regurgitation or stenosis and muscle performance needs to be revealed and evaluated prior to taking on any one or more of the treatment options available.

The prescribed treatment for enlarged heart includes:

• ACE inhibitors.
• Diuretic medication.
• Low-fat diet for healthy cholesterol level.
• Regular exercise regime.
• Frequent clinical analysis of the condition.

The condition makes it critical to adopt a healthy lifestyle and discontinue vices such as alcohol consumption and smoking that stress the organ out further. Keeping regular tabs on blood pressure and cholesterol level helps in identifying improvement and generating a shift in medication accordingly. It is very essential to adopt a fitness regime that is easy to follow and in sync with a diet plan designed for enlarged heart. The condition is a trigger for a sudden cardiac death and spares no age group. Research reveals that it could be genetic and hence a prevention plan needs to be identified and put into action without delay.