Enlarged heart | Heart and Stroke Foundation

Heart

Also called cardiomegaly

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What is an enlarged heart?

An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) is an increase in the size of the heart. It is not strictly a disease, it is a sign that another health condition is affecting your heart. Some conditions – such as pregnancy – increase demand on the heart. Other conditions can thicken the heart wall muscle or stretch out the heart chambers (dilate) which makes the heart larger.

Types 

The heart can enlarge in two ways:

1. Dilatation: The heart walls become thin, stretch out (dilate) and weaken. This enlarges the heart. Dilated cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure, where the heart loses its ability to pump properly.
2. Hypertrophy: The heart walls thicken causing the heart to become less efficient. This can happen in athletes and pregnant women, whose hearts undergo a high workload for long periods of time. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the thickening of the muscle of the left lower heart chamber (ventricle) – the main pumping chamber of the heart. It can be caused by high blood pressure or aortic stenosis. 

Symptoms

People with cardiomegaly may not have any symptoms until their condition becomes more severe. The symptoms you may experience include:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• heart palpitations (rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat)
• arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• dizziness
• fainting
• rapid exhaustion with physical activity
• swelling

Diagnosis 

Your doctor will diagnose cardiomegaly by doing a physical exam and assessing your:

• signs and symptoms
• medical history
• family history
• test results

Some of the tests used to diagnose an enlarged heart are:

• echocardiogram
• EKG / ECG (electrocardiogram)
• chest X-ray
• exercise stress test
• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
• blood tests to check for thyroid disease, infectious causes.  

Living with cardiomegaly

It’s normal to feel worried or afraid after a diagnosis of heart disease. Find someone you can turn to for emotional support like a family member, friend, doctor, mental health worker or support group. Talking about your challenges and feelings could be an important part of your journey to recovery.

• The recovery and support section is full of practical advice and tips to support you on your recovery journey.
• Find peer support resources here.
• Download or order our free book Living Well with Heart Disease.
• Join Heart & Stroke’s Community of Survivors or Care Supporters’ Community support groups.
• Sign up for the Heart & Stroke recovery newsletter. Get the latest research news and information, with tips and strategies to help you manage your recovery. 

Related information

To find useful services to help you on your journey with heart disease, see our services and resources listings.

Heart disease – enlarged heart

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Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• An enlarged heart isn’t a condition in itself, but a symptom of an underlying problem that is causing the heart to work harder than normal.
• Some of the many causes include coronary heart disease, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure and heart valve disease.
• Treatment depends on the cause, but can include diet and lifestyle adjustments, medication and surgery.

The heart is a muscular pump about the size of a clenched fist. An enlarged heart isn’t a condition in itself, but a symptom of an underlying problem that is causing the heart to work harder than normal.

Older people are at increased risk of having an enlarged heart. Another name for an enlarged heart is cardiomegaly.

The range of underlying problems that can lead to an enlarged heart may be:

• pathological – linked to actual disease of the heart muscle
• physiological – linked to other causes that are overworking the heart muscle, such as high blood pressure or thyroid diseases.

Symptoms of an enlarged heart

In some cases, an enlarged heart is asymptomatic (has no symptoms).

When symptoms do occur, it may be because the heart fails to pump blood effectively and this leads to a syndrome known as congestive heart failure. Symptoms may include:

• breathing problems
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• heart palpitations
• fluid retention.

Causes of enlarged heart

Some of the many causes of enlarged heart include:

• coronary artery disease – fatty deposits or plaques build up inside one or more of the coronary (heart) arteries. This constant ‘silting’ is called atherosclerosis and it results in narrowing of the artery. This reduces the oxygen supply, which is the fuel for the pump
• high blood pressure (hypertension) – blood pumps with more force than usual through the arteries, which puts strain on the heart. Causes of high blood pressure include obesity and a sedentary lifestyle
• idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy – disease of the heart muscle, the cause of which is unknown. Enlarged or ‘dilated’ heart is one of the most common types of cardiomyopathy. The most common symptom patients get with cardiomyopathy is shortness of breath and swelling of the ankles. Rarer symptoms include dizziness and chest pain
• myocarditis – an infection of the heart that is generally caused by a virus. A person may have a viral illness first and later have symptoms of congestive heart failure
• heart valve disease – for example, a faulty mitral valve allows blood to flow backwards, which means the affected heart chamber has to contract with more force than usual
• cardiac ischaemia – reduced blood flow to the heart. This condition can cause heart pain (angina)
• previous heart attack – a weakened heart muscle may enlarge in order to keep up with the demands of pumping blood around the body
• thyroid disease – the thyroid gland regulates many metabolic functions. Untreated, a thyroid condition can lead to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, irregular heartbeat and enlargement of the heart
• obesity – carrying too much body fat is a risk factor for high blood pressure, which in turn can cause the heart to enlarge
• lack of exercise – leading a sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for a range of conditions, including coronary heart disease and high blood pressure
• old age – as we get older, our arteries lose some of their elasticity. This ‘stiffening’ of the blood vessels causes high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for enlarged heart.

Diagnosis of enlarged heart

An enlarged heart is diagnosed using a number of tests including:

• medical history – including a physical examination
• chest x-ray – this allows the doctor to see the overall shape and size of the heart and lungs
• echocardiogram – sound waves sent to a special machine present a picture of the beating heart, so the doctor can see the heart as its chambers contract and relax
• Doppler study – shows blood flow through the heart valves and evaluates whether the valves are functioning normally
• electrocardiogram – measures electrical activity in the heart and can assess heart rhythm and evidence of old infarction or ischaemia.

Treatment of enlarged heart

Treatment depends on the underlying cause but options can include:

• medications to stop the heart from enlarging any further
• addressing the underlying problem (for example through diet, stopping smoking, exercise and medication to help control high blood pressure, or surgery to replace a faulty heart valve)
• regular cardiovascular exercise
• adopting a low-fat diet
• dietary adjustments to reduce blood cholesterol levels
• frequent medical check-ups to make sure the treatments are working.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Cardiologist

• Cardiomyopathy explainedExternal Link, Cardiomyopathy Association of Australia.

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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 22-09-2017

Signs of cardiomegaly, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and risks – Dobrobut Clinic

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Medical Library Dobrobut

Publication date: 2019-12-09

Signs of cardiomegaly, treatment and prevention

Cardiomegaly is a condition in which the heart is enlarged and its chambers are dilated. As the disease progresses, the heart will not be able to normally pump blood through the vessels. As a result, the provision of organs and tissues with blood, and hence oxygen and nutrients, suffers.

Causes of the disease

Why does cardiomegaly occur, what kind of disease is it, what are its manifestations – one of the most frequent questions of patients at a doctor’s appointment.

More often, pathology does not manifest itself as an independent heart disease, but as a consequence of some other conditions and pathologies. Such an increase in the heart is regarded as the norm in athletes. The results of diagnosing cardiomegaly in this case will not correspond to the subjective state of the patients – the heart adapts to the fact that it needs to pump more blood than people with standard physical exertion – because of this, the myocardial fibers (heart muscle) stretch, the heart chambers expand, the organ works more efficiently.

Pathological cardiomegaly can be congenital or acquired.

Cardiomegaly in the fetus develops less frequently than in the postnatal period as a complication of a number of diseases.

In case of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, due to which the load on the myocardium increases, it is stretched according to the same principle as in physiological cardiomegaly, but the heart becomes flabby and exhausted.

The following diseases and pathological factors can lead to cardiomegaly:

• hypertension;
• kidney disorders;
• ischemic heart disease;
• viral and bacterial myocardial damage;
• alcohol abuse, drug use;
• congenital pathologies of the heart and large vessels – in particular, heart defects.

In addition to the causes, the patient is interested in the symptoms of cardiomegaly, the treatment of this pathology, and its prevention.

Symptoms of cardiomegaly

With cardomegaly, the following are more often observed:

• pain;
• shortness of breath;
• peripheral edema.

The severity of signs of cardiomegaly depends on the degree of heart enlargement.

Characteristics of pain:

• according to localization – in the region of the heart;
• by nature – aching, squeezing;
• in intensity – it depends on the degree of progression of the disease, pain can be both moderate and severe.

The clinical picture is not specific – the symptoms of cardiomegaly may be similar to those of other heart diseases. Therefore, the patient’s complaints are not decisive in the diagnosis of this pathology – additional research methods are needed.

Diagnosis of cardiomegaly

The following methods are used in the diagnosis of cardiomegaly:

• percussion (tapping) of the heart – its boundaries will be expanded;
• auscultation of the heart (listening with a phonendoscope) – heart sounds are weakened;
• electrocardiography;
• radiography. Cardiomegaly on the radiograph is manifested by an increase in the heart and a change in its shape – the shadow of the heart becomes more rounded;
• computed tomography;
• blood gases.

It is important to identify not only this pathology, but also the disease, symptom complex or syndrome, against which cardiomegaly most often occurs.

Treatment

There are many methods of dealing with this pathology – from medication to surgery. Is it difficult to stop cardiomegaly? Treatment depends on the pathology provocateur. Often prescriptions for different causes of cardiomegaly are similar:

• anticoagulants – prevent thrombosis;
• beta-blockers – improve the pumping function of the heart;
• diuretics – eliminate edema due to circulatory failure;
• ACE – improves heart function.

Cardiomegaly in children requires special responsibility in the treatment – the well-being of the cardiovascular system of a person throughout his life depends on it.

Prevention

Primary prevention of cardiomegaly is the prevention of diseases that can lead to it, and if they occur, timely detection and treatment. Also important are:

• avoiding excessive physical activity on the one hand, moderate physical activity on the other;
• giving up bad habits;
• blood pressure control;
• weight correction;
• Regular check-ups with a cardiologist – even in the absence of any symptoms from the heart.

On our website https://www.dobrobut.com/ you can find out what degrees of cardiomegaly are, how it goes in pregnant women, what complications are possible.

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causes and effects in adults

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• What are the causes and signs of an enlarged heart

Content:

• Causes of an enlarged heart in an adult

• Consequences

• Signs of an enlarged heart

• Examination and treatment

Any changes in the cardiovascular system must be taken into account, since CVD is still a serious problem in all countries of the world. Today we will talk about the causes and consequences of an enlarged heart in an adult. It would seem that the larger the volume of the chambers, the greater the volume of blood the heart can pump. But in practice, everything is somewhat more complicated.

Causes of an enlarged heart in an adult

In trained people, the heart pumps large volumes of blood, so the organ increases in size to cope with stress. Although in this case we are not talking about pathology, at the end of a career and with a decrease in the volume of training, it is necessary to coordinate actions with the attending physician. Both professional athletes and amateurs should be observed. The heart can become larger during childbearing. The load on the cardiovascular system in pregnant women increases, over time, the heart returns to its usual size. If this does not happen, an examination and consultation with a cardiologist will be required.

Other reasons why the heart is enlarged:

• Endocrine pathologies.
• Immunodeficiencies.
• Overweight.
• Cardiac ischemia.
• SD.
• High iron content in the blood.
• Violation of metabolic processes.
• Alcoholism.
• AG.
• Cardiomyopathy of various origins.
• Congenital and acquired heart defects.
• Fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity.

The reasons why a woman’s heart is enlarged are most often associated with pregnancy. Men and the elderly are at risk: these categories of patients have an increased risk of CVD, so close attention to their health is required.

Consequences

If the heart is enlarged, the causes and consequences may be as follows: patients may develop cardiovascular pathology, which affects the deterioration of tissue nutrition. With cardiomegaly, the enlargement of the heart occurs for two reasons: due to thickening of the muscle or stretching of the chambers. In any case, this condition is not a variant of the norm if cardiomegaly has been observed for a long time.

Complications:

• Increased oxygen demand, formation of ischemia.
• Thinning of the walls of the heart.
• Probability of heart failure.
• Risk of blood clots.
• Accumulation of metabolic products.
• Violation of the blood supply to the lower extremities.
• Regurgitation is the return of blood to the chamber from which the fluid came.
• OMI.
• Cardiac arrest.

Although the consequences can be fatal, there is no need to panic right away – stress worsens CVD. But you must always remember that all body systems are in close connection, therefore, organs remote from the heart can suffer.

Signs of an enlarged heart

Patients with a bovine heart may not feel any change for a long time. The presence of a problem is detected during instrumental diagnostics. However, the following symptoms may appear due to lack of blood supply:

• Chest discomfort.
• Exercise intolerance.
• Heart rhythm disturbances.
• Fatigue.
• Swelling of the legs.
• Blue lips.
• Shortness of breath.
• Cough without cold symptoms.
• Weight gain.
• Increased sweating during sleep.

These symptoms do not directly indicate an enlarged heart. Similar manifestations can be found in a whole list of diseases. However, if you notice these signs in time, you can suspect a pathology and take timely action.

Examination and treatment

Regardless of the reasons why a person’s heart is enlarged, a diagnosis is required. The purpose of the examination is not only to establish the fact of an enlarged heart, but also to find a solution to minimize the consequences for the body. Since various diseases and conditions can affect the heart, the treatment is selected individually.

Diagnosis:

• Fluorography.
• X-ray.
• ECG.