Enlarged Heart

An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) describes a heart that’s bigger than what is typical. Your heart may be unusually thick or dilated (stretched). An enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause. Cardiomegaly can happen to your whole heart or just parts of it.

Heart enlargement can be your heart’s reaction to something that forces it to use more effort to circulate blood. It’s like walking uphill all the time instead of on level ground. In some cases, your heart becomes enlarged due to an underlying problem with the heart itself.

Who does an enlarged heart affect?

You have a higher risk of developing cardiomegaly if you have:

Family history of an enlarged heart.
Heavy alcohol use or a substance use disorder.
Tobacco use.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
History of heart attacks in yourself or family members.
Sedentary lifestyle.

How common is cardiomegaly?

Coronary artery disease, the most common cause of cardiomegaly, happens to many people. It affects an estimated 18 million people aged 20 and older in the United States. Congestive heart failure, which is often caused by a dilated heart, is the leading cause of hospitalization over the age of 65 in the United States.

What happens if you have cardiomegaly?

An enlarged heart has trouble pumping blood efficiently. For this reason, having an enlarged heart increases your risk for heart complications, such as heart failure or stroke.

Is cardiomegaly serious?

Yes, cardiomegaly can be serious. It depends on the condition that’s causing it. Some of these conditions are chronic. That means they last a long time and require treatment for many years.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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