What Is Enlarged Heart And What Are Its Symptoms?

By Author: Hema Sathish
Total Articles: 8
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Enlarged Heart is a condition in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened, or stiffened. It is also a symptom of an underlying problem that is causing the heart to work harder than normal. This condition is more prevalent in older people. The major cause of the enlarged heart is high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Other cause for the condition are,

- Viral infection of the heart

- Abnormal heart valve

- Pregnancy, with the heart enlarging around the time of delivery

- Kidney disease that needs dialysis

- Alcohol or cocaine abuse

- HIV infection

- Genetic and inherited conditions

People with an enlarged heart require life-long treatment with medications.

Symptoms

Generally, enlarged heart disease doesn’t show any signs. But, if it becomes unable to pump blood well enough, it may show the following symptoms.

- Shortness of breath

- Leg swelling

- Weight gain, particularly in your ...
... midsection

- Tired feeling

- Palpitations or skipped heartbeats

How is Enlarged Heart Disease Diagnosed?

Your cardiologist from one of the cardiology Hospitals in Madurai will perform an echocardiogram to determine the size, muscle thickness, and pumping function of the heart. There is no pain or risk involved. It also helps doctors to identify the factors that caused an enlarged heart.

Other methods that identify the condition of enlarged heart include,

- Physical examination

- Chest X-ray

- Cardiac catheterization

- Blood tests

- CT scan

- MRI

- Biopsy and more

Complications of Enlarged Heart

If not attended, the enlarged heart causes following health complications:

- Heart failure

- Blood clots

- Heart murmur

- Cardiac Arrest

Treatment Options for Enlarged Heart

- Your cardiologist from the best hospitals in Madurai prescribes you some medications to stop the heart from enlarging any further.

- One of the best cardiothoracic surgeons in Madurai, replaces a faulty valve or perform other surgeries or provide medications to treat the underlying condition.

- Performing regular cardio-vascular exercises.

- Following a low-fat diet.

- Making dietary adjustments to control blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

- Scheduling frequent medical check-ups to determine the function of your heart.

The author of this article is a leading cardiologist associated with one of the leading cardiology hospitals in Madurai. In this article, he details ‘enlarged heart’ and the risks associated with it. Visit https://www.devadosshospitals.com for more information.

Devadoss Hospital is a tertiary referral hospital with wide ranging facilities and dedicated, comprehensive team of multi-disciplinary medical experts. Our main focus is highest quality of healthcare thereby our ultramodern hospital is governed by ISO 9001:2015 certification as well as NABH Entry Level Accreditation. Our Chairman Prof. Dr. A. Devadoss is well known in the region practicing orthopaedic surgery for the last 50 years. His vision to provide the best multi-disciplinary healthcare under one roof has brought about this state-of-the-art multispecialty hospital.