How to Treat an Enlarged Heart

Causes and Symptoms

Recognize the causes. There are many diseases that can cause an enlarged heart. These include heart valve or heart muscle disease, arrhythmia, weakening of the heart muscle, fluid around your heart, high blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension. You can also develop an enlarged heart after thyroid disease or chronic anemia. It can also be due to a build up of excess iron or abnormal proteins in your heart. Other situations have been associated with an enlarged heart. An enlarged heart can be caused by pregnancy, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, stressful life situations, certain infections, the ingestion of certain toxins such as drugs and alcohol, and taking some medications.

Know the risk factors. There are certain individuals who are at risk for an enlarged heart. If you have high blood pressure, blocked arteries, congenital heart disease, valvular disease, or have had a heart attack. You are also at risk if your family has a history of enlarged hearts, since they tend to run in families. Your blood pressure must be above 140/90 for it to be considered high enough to be a risk factor for an enlarged heart.

Learn the symptoms. Although it is not a disease, there are symptoms that some people with an enlarged heart suffer. An irregular heart beat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and coughing are some of the symptoms of an enlarged heart. Your symptoms may also vary, depending on the underlying cause of your enlarged heart. You should see your doctor immediately if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting spells.

Understand the complications. There are multiple complications that can arise from an enlarged heart. You can be more susceptible to blood clots and cardiac arrest. You may also have persistent heart murmurers, which are due to friction during the flow of blood and disrupt the rhythm of your heart. If it is left untreated, an enlarged heart can also lead to sudden death. If you have an enlarged left ventricle, which is considered a severe case of an enlarged heart, you are at risk for heart failure.

Diagnose an enlarged heart. There are multiple ways that your doctor can diagnose your enlarged heart. The first step is typically an x-ray, where your doctor will look at the size of your heart. He may also perform an echocardiogram or an electrocardiogram if the x-ray is not conclusive. He may also perform a heart stress test, a CT scan, or an MRI. He will then run tests to figure out the underlying cause of your enlarged heart, which will help him come up with the best way to treat it.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Change the way you eat. One of the main ways you can reduce the effects of an enlarged heart and help combat the underlying causes of the condition is through diet. You should eat foods low in saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol. You should incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy proteins into your diet. You should also drink 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Try eating more fish, green leafy vegetables, fruit, and beans to help lower your cholesterol and sodium levels and reduce your blood pressure. You can also ask your doctor for a diet plan that is best suited for your particular situation.

Work out. Put more physical activity into your daily routine. Depending on what underlying condition you have, your doctor may recommend different kinds of exercise. He may suggest light aerobic and mild cardiovascular exercise such as walking or swimming if your heart is too weak to take too much stress. He may also suggest your do more intense cardio and strength training such as bike riding or running as you get stronger or if you need to lose a decent amount of weight. Always consult your doctor before undertaking any physical activity, especially with a heart condition. Combining eating right with exercise will help you lose weight, which is very beneficial for many of the underlying causes of an enlarged heart.

Reduce bad habits. There are certain bad habits you should avoid or quit all together when you are diagnosed with an enlarged heart. You should quit smoking immediately because it adds strain to your heart and blood vessels. You should also avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine because they make your heart beat in an irregular rhythm and put a strain on the muscle. You should also try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night in order to help regulate your heart beat and replenish your body every day.

See your doctor often. As you go through your recovery, you need to see your doctor often. This way, he can keep a close watch on the state of your heart and let you know if your condition is better or worse. Your physician will also be able to tell if you are responding to treatments or if you need to seek more advanced options for treatment.

Medical and Surgical Treatments

Discuss medical device options with your doctor. If an enlarged heart causes severe heart failure or significant arrhythmia your doctor may suggest you get an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The ICD is a matchbox-sized device that helps the heart maintain its normal rhythms through electrical shocks. Your doctor may also suggest a pacemaker to help coordinate the contractions of your heart.

Consider heart valve surgery. If an impaired valve caused an enlarged heart, then your doctor may suggest replacement surgery as an option. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the narrowed or damaged valve and replaces it with another one. These valves can be a tissue valve from a deceased human donor, a cow, or a pig. You may also receive an artificial value as well. Surgery may also be necessary to repair or replace a leaky valve, also known as valve regurgitation. This condition, which also contributes to an enlarged heart, causes blood to leak out through the valve backwards.

Ask about other surgeries. If your enlarged heart is due to diseased arteries you may need to have coronary stents or coronary artery bypass graft surgery to fix your heart. If you have experienced heart failure due to your enlarged heart, your doctor may suggest you have surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This device will help your weak heart pump properly. The LVAD can be a long term treatment for heart failure or as a life saving measure while you wait for a heart transplant. Heart transplants are considered the last resort for an enlarged heart and are only considered when all other options have been ruled out. It is not easy to get a heart transplant and the waiting process can take years.

Medication Options

Take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. When you are diagnosed with a condition that causes an enlarged heart, your doctor may prescribe you ACE inhibitors. If a weak muscle in your heart contributed to your condition, ACE inhibitors are used to help restore your heart's normal pumping functions. The medication can lower blood pressure as well. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are prescribed as an alternative medication for patients who have trouble tolerating ACE inhibitors.

Treat heart tissue scarring with diuretics. If you have an enlarged heart, especially if it due to cardiomyopathy, your doctor may prescribe diuretics. These medications help lower the levels of water and sodium in the body and help decrease the thickness of your heart muscles. This medication may lower blood pressure.

Use beta-blockers. If a major symptom of your enlarged heart is high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe beta-blockers. This will depend on your overall condition. This medication helps to improve blood pressure and lessens abnormal heart rhythms in addition to lowering your heart rate. Other medications such as digoxin also help to improve the heart's pumping mechanism. This can help you avoid hospitalization due to heart failure.

Ask your doctor about other medication. Depending on the cause of your enlarged heart, your doctor may also prescribe other medications to help with your condition. If he is worried that you may be at risk for blood clots, your doctor may prescribe you anticoagulants. These medications reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to strokes or heart attacks. He may also prescribe anti-arrhythmics, which are medications designed to help keep your heart at a normal rhythm.