Enlarged Heart

A diagnosis starts with discussing your symptoms and family health history. They’ll ask you about your exercise history. Your healthcare provider may hear a heart murmur when they listen to your heart with a stethoscope. You may have other signs of heart failure, including leg swelling, crackles in the lungs due to fluid, or engorged neck veins due to extra fluid in the body as the heart can’t pump efficiently. They may order tests to assess your cardiomegaly and rule out other conditions.

Some common tests include:

Chest X-ray to record images of your chest and heart.
Cardiac CT scan, using X-rays to create a video of your heart and blood flow.
Transthoracic echocardiogram uses ultrasound to check your heart’s size and how well it’s working.
Electrocardiogram (EKG) to study your heart’s electrical activity.
Exercise stress test, raising your heart rate with medicine or exercise to learn how your heart responds.
Heart MRI, using magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of your heart.
Genetic testing, to see if you have an underlying genetic problem causing an enlarged heart.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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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?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.