What causes your heart to enlarge

Common Questions and Answers about What causes your heart to enlarge

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Avatar n tn There are heart conditions that enlarge the heart walls and/or heart chambers and referred to as primary cardiomyopathies (enlargement of heart) and have as a dominant feature the involvement of heart muscle itself and that causes growth of the heart walls and there are conditions that dilate (enlarge) the chamber size. The heart will reach an enlargement that will cause heart failure or cardiac arrest with either increased heart wall growth and/or chamber enlargement.
Avatar f tn It can be due to heart muscle disease, alcohol, drugs medication, and the heart can enlarge due extreme physical activity (athlete's heart) over a period of time.. Athlete's heart is not a pathologcal condition, and will return to normal size when the activity is reduced or stopped. Q: "Are there any signs or symptoms of this condition?" Shortness of breath, easily fatigued, chest pain (angina)...Dizziness, Abnormal heart rhythm, cough, swelling (edema), Cough.
787406 tn?1339203183 Valve regurgitation (leaking valve) when just a trace, mild, etc. is not considered medically significant. To come on suddenly would be medical emergency, and the cause could be the rupture of the papillary heart muscle (area that attaches chords to valve leaflets) or the chords could break away from the leaflets, etc. Sometimes perhaps the left ventricle can quickly enlarge and that would skew the opening (orifice), but there would be other signs and symptoms associated.
Avatar f tn Sometimes an enlargement causes heart failure. In the advanced stages , failure has symptoms of varying degrees. Some people are incapacitated and find it hard to move around, but others can get by ok.
Avatar n tn //www.medhelp.org/posts/show/251875'>Enlarged Heart</a>.
Avatar n tn Consequently, it becomes difficult for blood to pass through the lungs, making it harder for the heart to pump blood forward. This stress on the heart leads to ENLARGEMENT of the heart and eventually fluid can build up in the liver and tissues, such as the in the legs. Affected patients can sometimes notice increasing shortness of breath and dizziness". I don't have an answer regarding systemic blood pressure return to normal readings.
Avatar m tn I have been on medical management for about 7 years for a heart problem. I had an enlarged heart due to stress to the heart that was pumping against high resistence. The heart enlarges to compensate, and medication is prescribed to reduce the heart's workload and often the heart will resize back to normal and pump adequately. Medical management to reduce the burden to the heart would be medication that dilates vessels and the increased size reduces the heart's workload.
Avatar n tn s workload and sometime the heart will return to normal dimensions. Then the is an enlargement due to heart wall thickening. The thickened walls lose thier elasticity and the blood filling of the chamber is compromised. Thanks for your question, and if you have any further questions you are welcome to respond. Take care.
Avatar f tn Hi, speaking from personal experience, thank goodness you found out now. My advice, start checking into who you can take your baby to after birth. It's important to get everything looked over by a professional (maybe a pediatric cardiologist?). I, too, will be taking our son to a cardiologist- just as a precautionary. Good luck and best wishes!
1647333 tn?1302443078 How did your friend find out he had an enlarged heart? Mine was found during an Xray I had done for heart issues; it's on the reports listed as Cardiomegaly and would show up in a medical search if someone checked his medical files if they reported it - I know mine did.
Avatar n tn i do know that if you have had a heart attack you get heart muscle damage the damage comes from blocked artieries that feed blood to your heart it doesnt just pick smokers or drinkers although smoking can contribute to it she should have a heart cath to check her artieries
Avatar m tn During the time I was in the hospital they found an enlarge heart. I am still hear and kicking at the wonderful age of 51. In 1998 a implantabled defibillator was put in. My question is at this age could I still continue a preferbly long life?
Avatar m tn It can but it all depends on what caused your heart to enlarge. It's very important that you see a heart doctor as soon as possible and have some basic tests done. Echocardiography should be performed to assess your heart size and function. Depending on what's found, further workup may include heart catheterization.
Avatar f tn This causes that your heart does not pump very efficiently and has to work (too) hard to supply your body of oxygen rich blood. If such a condition remains for a longer period, the heart starts to compensate, leading to dilation of the heart chambers (dilation of LA, RA, RV). What did your cardiologist say about it?
Avatar m tn What is "Enlarge in size 19.8 cm"? Spleens average 2.4 to 6.3 inches (6-16 cm). The size of a Pancreas is almost the size of a stepped on banana. A Gall Bladder is about 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long.
Avatar n tn I was recently diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. I have had symptoms of a resting heart rate of 99-140, chest and back pain - sharp and squeezing pressure, pressure in my chest, back and left arm, migraines, dizziness, fainting, large dips in blood pressure, nausea, sweating, and shortness of breath. I am on disopyramide 300 mg per day and still symptomatic. I had 3 echos done and 3 xrays to confirm.
Avatar f tn A chest X-ray or an EKG is not a good way to determine this, an ultrasound of the heart is better. Ask your cardiologist what your diagnose is and what treatment options there is. I hope you will be OK!
1319027 tn?1274378909 The hole in the heart causes more blood to be shunted from the left ventricle to the right atrium. This causes more blood to be in the right atrium and causes the atrium to enlarge. The hole is usually in the septum (wall that separates left and right atria). There needs to be more information of the underlying cause of the enlarged RV for an answer. There can be structual anomoly.
Avatar f tn Hypertension is a serious and life-threatening event as it causes your heart to enlarge. This could be deadly if not treated. I suggest you getting to a doctor to find out what's causing you to have high blood pressure associated with tightness in your chest, and with shortness of breath. It could be Congestive Heart Failure also.
Avatar m tn Treatment would be to get the high blood pressure under control as that causes the heart to overwork and enlarge. Often the high blood pressure is due to blocked or partially blocked arteries and that should be treated as well. I'm not sure the significance of heparin as that is a medication is to prevent blood from clotting...did your father have a heart valve replacement or atrial fibs (very fast fluttering upper heart chamber.
Avatar f tn If there is some calcification of the aorta (output valve for blood/oxygen to system), the narrow opening (stenosis) will require the heart to work harder, and as a result the heart will enlarge. To help the heart return to normal size (if dilated...not cardiomyopathy), a reduction in the heart's workload will provide relief and the heart can return to normal size.