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How is an enlarged heart treated?
Your doctor may recommend the following lifestyle changes:
- Quit smoking.
- Lose excess weight.
- Limit salt in your diet.
- Control diabetes.
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Get modest exercise, after discussing with your doctor the most appropriate program of physical activity.
- Avoid or stop using alcohol and caffeine.
Is cardiomegaly a serious condition?
Outlook. Mild cardiomegaly isn’t considered as serious as moderate or severe cardiomegaly. But for all forms of cardiomegaly, the focus should be on the underlying condition. Some mild forms are temporary, such as those caused by drug and alcohol abuse.
Can you fix cardiomegaly?
For some people, cardiomegaly is just temporary and will resolve on its own. However, other people may have permanent cardiomegaly. It is vital that this symptom and the underlying cause of it are treated to prevent more serious damage to the heart. Treatments include medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
How long can you live with cardiomegaly?
Life expectancy with congestive heart failure varies depending on the severity of the condition, genetics, age, and other factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one-half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive beyond five years.
Can enlarged heart go back to normal?
Some people have an enlarged heart because of temporary factors, such as pregnancy or an infection. In these cases, your heart will return to its usual size after treatment. If your enlarged heart is due to a chronic (ongoing) condition, it usually will not go away.
What is the symptoms of heart enlargement?
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.
Why is cardiomegaly bad?
An enlarged left ventricle, one of the most serious types of enlarged heart, increases the risk of heart failure. In heart failure, your heart muscle weakens, and the ventricles stretch (dilate) to the point that the heart can’t pump blood efficiently throughout your body.
Is walking good for enlarged heart?
Walking helps congestive heart failure patients in several ways: Reduces heart attack risk, including cutting the risk of having a second heart attack. Strengthens their hearts and improves lung function. Long term, aerobic activity improves your heart’s ability to pump blood to your lungs and throughout your body.
Is exercise bad for enlarged heart?
Exercise may reduce more than your waist size. It also may help shrink a thickened and enlarged heart. Regular exercise can be at least as beneficial as blood pressure medication when treating an enlarged heart.
How serious is cardiomegaly?
Possible complications include: Blood clots: People with cardiomegaly are at risk of blood clots forming in the heart’s lining. If the clots enter the bloodstream, they can hinder the flow of blood to the rest of the body.
Can cardiomegaly be reversed?
So, can cardiomegaly be reversed? Yes, in some cases it can, says Dr. Ayehsa Hasan , medical director of the cardiac transplant program and director of the heart failure devices clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “It depends on the etiology,” or origin of the problem.
How is cardiomegaly treated?
Treatment of Cardiomegaly aims at treating the underlying conditions behind the disease and reducing undue stress on cardiac muscles. If Cardiomegaly is caused by high blood pressure, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and diuretics may be used to reduce pressure level.
Is cardiomegaly considered heart disease?
Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart. It is not a disease, but a sign of another condition. Less severe forms of cardiomegaly are referred to as mild cardiomegaly. As mild cardiomegaly does not always cause symptoms, many people with a slightly enlarged heart are unaware of the problem.