13/01/2017
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.
