Cardiomegaly is the medical term for enlarged heart. And heart enlargement is a symptom of some other health condition, which may cause a permanent size change or just temporary, i.e. pregnancy.
One basic common cause of cardiomegaly is when your heart is subjected to an increase in work, then it responds by growing like any of your other muscles do. One of most serious forms of cardiomegaly is an enlarged left ventricle because it can lead to heart failure. And in some cases an enlarged heart occurs without reason.
There are many causes for cardiomegaly symptom to develop, like:
- CAD
- anemia
- arrhythmia
- heart attack
- amyloidosis
- hypertension
- Fabry disease
- rheumatic fever
- Pompe disease
- aplastic anemia
- cardiomyopathy
- hemochromatosis
- aortic valve stenosis
- Kawasaki syndrome
- heart valve problems
- congenital heart defect
- congestive heart failure
- pulmonary hypertension
- polycystic kidney disease
- connective tissue disorders
- infections ~ infectious endocarditis
- certain cancer drugs or radiation treatments
- thyroid disorders ~ hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism
Many with cardiomegaly don’t know it because their heart enlargement causes no other symptoms. However, symptoms an enlarged heart can cause:
- cough
- edema
- dyspnea
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- abnormal heart rhythm
The risk for any complications largely depends on which part of your heart is enlarged and the underlying cause. Some types of issues that can arise include:
- heart failure
- heart murmur
- blood clots causing pulmonary embolism
- fainting, cardiac arrest, sudden death caused by disruption in your heart’s rhythm
Treatment for an enlarged heart is pinpointing which one of its many causes is to blame and treating it. And there are some lifestyle measures you may be advised to take in an effort to complement the treatment of your health condition, such as:
- lose weight
- quit smoking
- control diabetes
- consume healthy diet
- reduce sodium intake
- alcohol consumption reduction
- monitor your own blood pressure
- an exercise program tailored to your health condition
- ensure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep each night
These lifestyle adjustments not only will help with your enlarged heart, but contribute positively to your overall health as well.