Author:
Lewis Jackson
Date Of Creation:
9 May 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
An enlarged heart is a condition in which the heart is larger than normal. This condition is not a disease and is considered to be caused by many other illnesses and health problems. If you suspect you have an enlarged heart, follow these simple steps to recognize and treat it.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Detecting an enlarged heart
Know the cause. There are many conditions that can cause an enlarged heart, including heart valve disease and cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, weakening of the heart muscle, fluid retention around the heart, high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension. People with thyroid disease or chronic anemia can also develop an enlarged heart. In addition, this condition can also be caused by a buildup of excess iron and abnormal proteins in the heart.
- An enlarged heart is also associated with many other conditions. For example, an enlarged heart can be caused by pregnancy, obesity, nutrient deficiencies, stressful lives, certain infections, use of certain toxins such as drugs and alcohol, and consumption. medicine.
Understand your risk factors. Some people are at a higher risk of developing an enlarged heart. Examples are patients with high blood pressure, arterial occlusion, congenital heart disease, valvular disease or heart attack. Additionally, subjects with a family history of an enlarged heart are at higher risk.- High blood pressure above 140/90 is a risk factor for an enlarged heart.
Learn about symptoms. Although it is not a disease, there are some specific symptoms with an enlarged heart. Examples include arrhythmia, shortness of breath, dizziness, and cough. Symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on the underlying cause of the enlarged heart.- See a doctor right away if you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, or faint.
Understand complications. An enlarged heart can lead to many complications. People with an enlarged heart are prone to blood clots and the heart stops beating. In addition, you will hear a constant heart murmur due to friction during blood circulation and arrhythmia.If left untreated, an enlarged heart can lead to sudden death.- An enlarged left ventricle is considered a serious case of an enlarged heart and can lead to heart failure.
Diagnose an enlarged heart. There are different ways to diagnose an enlarged heart. The first step is usually an X-ray to see the size of the heart. Your doctor may also perform an echocardiogram or an electrocardiogram if the x-ray results are uncertain. Other methods of diagnosing an enlarged heart include a stress test in the heart, CT scan or MRI.
- Then, the doctor will conduct tests to determine the underlying cause of the enlarged heart, and then recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Method 2 of 4: Lifestyle changes
Change eating habits. One of the primary ways to reduce the effects of an enlarged heart and counteract the cause of it is to change your diet. Eat foods low in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol. In addition, include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy protein in your diet.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.
- Eat more fish, green leafy vegetables, fruits and beans to lower cholesterol and sodium and help lower blood pressure.
- You can consult with your doctor about the right diet for your specific situation.
Do exercise. You should increase your physical activity every day. Depending on the underlying cause of the enlarged heart, your doctor may recommend a variety of exercises. Your doctor may recommend low-intensity aerobic and cardio exercises, such as walking or swimming if your heart is too weak and can't take too much pressure.
- In addition, your doctor may also recommend intense and vigorous cardio exercises like cycling or running when you feel better or if you need to lose weight.
- Always consult your doctor before starting any physical activity, especially if you have heart disease.
- The right combination of diet and exercise will help with weight loss, which is beneficial in treating many underlying conditions that lead to an enlarged heart.
Limit bad habits. Avoid or quit bad habits once you've been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. You should quit smoking right away, as smoking increases the pressure on your heart and blood vessels. In addition, you should also avoid drinking too many drinks containing alcohol and caffeine because they disturb the heartbeat and increase pressure on the heart muscle.
- Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night to help regulate your heart rate and recharge your body.
See your doctor regularly. During the recovery process, you should see your doctor regularly. This way your doctor can closely monitor the condition of your heart and let you know if your enlarged heart has improved or worsened.
- Your doctor can also tell you if your body is responding to treatments and whether you need more advanced treatment.
Method 3 of 4: Consider surgical procedures and methods
Talk to your doctor about medical devices. If an enlarged heart leads to severe heart failure or significant arrhythmias, your doctor may recommend an implantable defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a matchbox-sized device that helps maintain a normal heartbeat through an electric shock.
- Your doctor may also recommend using a pacemaker to help regulate contractions of the heart.
Consider heart valve surgery. If an enlarged heart leads to valve failure, your doctor may recommend replacement surgery in which the surgeon removes a narrow or damaged valve and replaces it with a different heart valve.
- The heart valve can be a tissue valve from a deceased donor, cow or pig. In addition, heart valves can also be replaced with artificial heart valves.
- Surgery will be needed to repair or replace a leaky valve, also known as valve regurgitation. This condition contributes to an enlarged heart and causes blood to leak out through the heart valves.
Ask your doctor about other surgical options. If your enlarged heart is caused by an artery disease, you may need a coronary artery bypass graft surgery to restore your heart. For heart failure caused by an enlarged heart, a left ventricular support device (LVAD) implant surgery will be recommended to help the heart pump.
- The LVAD device can be a long-term approach for people with heart failure or to stay alive while waiting for a heart transplant.
- The heart transplant method is considered the last resort for people with an enlarged heart and is only done when none of the other options are effective. Waiting times for a heart transplant can last for years.
Method 4 of 4: Drug treatment
Take an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Once you are diagnosed with an enlarged heart condition, your doctor may prescribe ACE. When weak heart muscle leads to disease, ACE inhibitors help support the heart's normal pumping function. This medicine can help lower blood pressure.
- Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may be prescribed as an alternative to patients who cannot take ACE inhibitors.
Treat scar tissue with diuretics. Doctors may prescribe diuretics for patients with an enlarged heart, especially due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Diuretics help reduce the amount of water and sodium in the body, while reducing the thickness of the heart muscle.
- This drug also lowers blood pressure.
Use a beta blocker. If high blood pressure is the main cause of an enlarged heart, your doctor will rely on the specific condition and may prescribe a beta blocker. This medicine improves blood pressure, regulates heart rate and lowers heart rate.
- Other drugs such as Digoxin also aid in the pumping mechanism of the heart. This way, you can avoid the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure.
Ask your doctor about other medications. Depending on the cause of the enlarged heart, your doctor may prescribe other medications. If you're concerned that you're at risk for blood clots, your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant. This medication reduces the risk of blood clots - which can lead to stroke or heart attack.
- In addition, your doctor may also prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs - drugs used to maintain a normal heartbeat.
