Medication
Treatment of cardiomegaly often begins with lifestyle modifications to decrease risk factors. These may include losing weight, increasing exercise, decreasing alcohol consumption, and eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish, while limiting intake of sodium, red meats, and saturated fats.
Procedures
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. Beta ...
Nutrition
Treatment Medication. Recommended medications depend on the condition that is causing the enlarged heart. Medication may be... Medical devices. If medications do not effectively treat mild cardiomegaly, or if symptoms become moderate or severe, it... Surgery. Surgery is usually reserved for more ...
How serious is cardiomegaly?
Using the latest methods and technologies, our treatments for cardiomegaly may include: Medications to manage heart disease Surgery, such as heart valve surgery or bypass surgery, to restore normal blood flow and heart function Heart transplant, if your heart is working so poorly that it is not able to keep you alive
Can cardiomegaly be reversed?
Aug 11, 2021 · In moderate to severe cardiomegaly associated with heart failure, standard HF treatment guidelines also apply. Patients at risk of cardiomyopathy benefit from risk factor modification such as smoking cessation, limiting alcohol intake, weight loss, exercise, and consuming a healthy diet.
How to treat cardiomegaly?
Jan 16, 2020 · Treatments for an enlarged heart focus on correcting the cause. Medications If cardiomyopathy or another type of heart condition is to blame for your enlarged heart, your doctor may recommend medications. These may include: Diuretics to lower the amount of sodium and water in your body, which can help lower the pressure in your arteries and heart
How you can undo heart disease in 72 hours?
Jan 16, 2020 · 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. Symptoms In some people, an enlarged heart causes no signs or symptoms. Others may have these signs and symptoms:
Is there any treatment for cardiomegaly?
Using the latest methods and technologies, our treatments for cardiomegaly may include: Medications to manage heart disease. Surgery, such as heart valve surgery or bypass surgery, to restore normal blood flow and heart function. Heart transplant, if your heart is working so poorly that it is not able to keep you alive.
Is enlarged heart treatable?
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.Jan 16, 2020
Is cardiomegaly a serious condition?
Outlook. Mild cardiomegaly isn't considered as serious as moderate or severe cardiomegaly. But for all forms of cardiomegaly, the focus should be on the underlying condition. Some mild forms are temporary, such as those caused by drug and alcohol abuse.
How long can you live with cardiomegaly?
Life expectancy with congestive heart failure varies depending on the severity of the condition, genetics, age, and other factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one-half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive beyond five years.Jul 18, 2018
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. If your enlarged heart is due to a chronic (ongoing) condition, it usually will not go away.Mar 9, 2021
What are the warning signs of an enlarged heart?
Symptoms of an enlarged heartbreathing problems.shortness of breath.dizziness.irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)heart palpitations.fluid retention.
Does an enlarged heart shorten your life?
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.
Does an enlarged heart make you tired?
As your heart works overtime, it can cause tiredness, shortness of breath and a feeling of being simply worn out. Such are the signs of fatigue, one of the most common symptoms of congestive heart failure.
What is cardiomegaly?
Cardiomegaly refers to the enlargement of the heart and is usually indicative of an underlying heart condition. The heart, which is located in the...
What causes cardiomegaly?
Cardiomegaly can develop from a variety of conditions that affect how the heart functions. Certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, can mak...
What are the signs and symptoms of cardiomegaly?
People who have an enlarged heart usually show signs or symptoms that may include shortness of breath, abnormal heart rhythms, fatigue, chest pain,...
How is cardiomegaly diagnosed?
To diagnose cardiomegaly, a healthcare provider will start by reviewing the individual’s medical history and performing a physical exam. A chest X-...
How is cardiomegaly treated?
Treatment of cardiomegaly often begins with lifestyle modifications to decrease risk factors. These may include losing weight, increasing exercise,...
What are the most important facts to know about cardiomegaly?
Cardiomegaly refers to the enlargement of the heart. Cardiomegaly isn’t a disease itself, but is rather a change in the heart muscle as a result of...
What is the treatment for an enlarged heart?
Enlarged heart treatment may include procedures/surgery to: 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.
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 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 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.
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.
What happens if 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). Heart failure, if the left side of your heart is enlarged ( left ventricular hypertrophy ).
What are the complications of cardiomegaly?
Complications. Possible complications include: Blood clots: People with cardiomegaly are at risk of blood clots forming in the heart’s lining. If the clots enter the bloodstream, they can hinder the flow of blood to the rest of the body. In some cases, this can lead to stroke or heart attack.
What is cardiomyopathy in the heart?
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium or heart muscle that causes cardiomegaly. There are 2 types of cardiomyopathy. Dilative cardiomyopathy: This type is characterized by a wide, poorly functioning left ventricle, which is the heart’s primary pumping chamber.
Why does my heart murmur?
Heart murmur: Some of the heart’s valves may not shut correctly due to cardiomegaly. This causes a backflow of blood, which leads to sounds called heart murmurs. Heart murmurs may be harmless but should be monitored. Complications of cardiomegaly depend on the reason for it and the level of the enlargement.
What is it called when the heart is enlarged?
If the heart is enlarged then this is known as cardiomegaly, which may present as mild or severe. Cardiomegaly can be caused by many conditions, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, infections, inherited disorders, and cardiomyopathies. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium or heart muscle that causes cardiomegaly.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Seek emergency medical treatment if any of the symptoms of a heart attack are experienced, such as: severe chest pain. shortness of breath. fainting. discomfort or sensations in the arms, back, neck, or stomach. The outlook for people with mild cardiomegaly depends on the underlying cause.
What is the purpose of ECG?
Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG is used to record the heart’s electrical activity and to diagnose abnormalities in its rhythm. Cardiac biopsy: A tube is inserted into the groin and through the blood vessels to the heart. From here, a small sample of heart tissue is taken and analyzed.
Can stress cause cardiomyopathy?
Treatment will help reverse this condition. Extreme stress: Stress can lead to acute stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Approximately 75 percent of people with the condition have undergone emotional or physical stress. Pregnancy: The heart can sometimes become larger around the time of delivery.
How to treat cardiomegaly?
Using the latest methods and technologies, our treatments for cardiomegaly may include: 1 Medications to manage heart disease 2 Surgery, such as heart valve surgery or bypass surgery, to restore normal blood flow and heart function 3 Heart transplant, if your heart is working so poorly that it is not able to keep you alive 4 Adapting a healthy lifestyle, including a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and stress management 5 Pacemakers or implantable cardio-converters, to monitor and adjust the heartbeat if you have a serious arrhythmia
What are the symptoms of cardiomegaly?
More advanced cases of cardiomegaly can cause: Abnormal heartbeat. Swelling (also called edema) Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
What is the best treatment for an enlarged heart?
Heart valve surgery. If your enlarged heart is caused by a problem with one of your heart valves or if it has caused heart valve problems, you may have surgery to repair or replace the affected valve. Coronary bypass surgery. If your enlarged heart is related to coronary artery disease, your doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery.
What tests are done to determine if your heart is enlarged?
These tests may include: Chest X-ray. X-ray images help your doctor see the condition of your lungs and heart. If your heart is enlarged on an X-ray, other tests ...
What is the name of the test that shows the electrical activity of the heart?
Electrocardiogram. This test records the electrical activity of your heart through electrodes attached to your skin. Impulses are recorded as waves and displayed on a monitor or printed on paper. This test helps your doctor diagnose heart rhythm problems and damage to your heart from a heart attack. Echocardiogram.
What is a cardiac MRI?
Cardiac computer ized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During a cardiac CT scan, you lie on a table inside a doughnut-shaped machine. An X-ray tube inside the machine rotates around your body and collects images of your heart and chest. In a cardiac MRI, you lie on a table inside a long tubelike machine ...
What is the best medication to lower blood pressure?
Diuretics to lower the amount of sodium and water in your body, which can help lower the pressure in your arteries and heart. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower your blood pressure and improve your heart's pumping capability.
What are the benefits of beta blockers?
Beta blockers to lower blood pressure and improve heart function. Anticoagulants to reduce the risk of blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke.
What is LVAD pump?
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD). If you have heart failure, you may need this implantable mechanical pump to help your weakened heart pump. You may have an LVAD implanted while you wait for a heart transplant or, if you're not a candidate for heart transplant, as a long-term treatment for heart failure.
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 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.
Why does my heart get bigger?
Causes. 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.
Why does the heart pump more blood?
Your heart must pump more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood. Thyroid disorders. Both an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can lead to heart problems, including an enlarged heart. Excessive iron in the body (hemochromatosis).
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Seek emergency medical care if you have any of these signs and symptoms, which may mean you're having a heart attack: Chest pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Severe shortness of breath. Fainting.
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.
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).
Heart Disorders
There are a variety of heart disorders that can lead to mild cardiomegaly. Mild cardiomegaly is generally not considered to be a disease of the heart, but instead the consequence of certain heart diseases. Understanding the cause of mild cardiomegaly makes management and treatment much more effective. Causes can include:
Blood Disorders
Certain blood disorders can result in the enlargement of the heart. These include:
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can impact the size of the heart temporarily. In pregnancy, your heart is responsible for pumping your blood and the blood to your baby. The extra demand makes the heart work harder and enlarge. Usually, the cardiomegaly in pregnancy is reversible, and the heart goes back to a normal size a few months after the baby is born.
Drugs and Alcohol
Consuming cocaine, methamphetamine, or large amounts of alcohol is known to cause a heart disease called cardiomyopathy. 2 Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine place the heart under a large amount of stress. Over time, the stress causes the heart to enlarge. Alcohol can create toxins in the body that damage the heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mild cardiomegaly is used to describe a mildly enlarged heart. Mild cardiomegaly may be one of the first signs of another heart disorder. If you have cardiomegaly, you should consult with a physician so they can evaluate the potential causes of an enlarged heart.
A Word From Verywell
Medications and procedures to treat heart diseases can help patients live long and fulfilling lives, making issues like mild cardiomegaly manageable. Heart disease is the most common disease in the world, and many advances have been made to treat heart disease effectively.
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 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 are the symptoms of a medical emergency?
shortness of breath . an irregular heart rhythm ( arrhythmia) swelling in the legs and ankles caused by fluid buildup ( edema) fatigue. dizziness. Symptoms that indicate a medical emergency include: chest pain. trouble catching your breath. pain in your arms, back, neck, or jaw.
How to lower cholesterol and blood pressure?
doing aerobic and strength-training exercises on most days of the week. checking your blood pressure and cholesterol level regularly, and working with your doctor to lower them if they’re high. You should also see your doctor for regular checkups to make sure your heart is healthy.
Which gland produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism?
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism. Both overproduction ( hyperthyroidism) and underproduction ( hypothyroidism) of these hormones can affect the heart rate, blood pressure, and size of the heart.
