How to reduce heart size. Enlarged heart: causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences. Ventricular septal defect

If, after a routine preventive examination of the chest, you find out that your heart is enlarged in size on fluorography, then do not panic in advance, but go for a consultation with a cardiologist and try to understand the reasons for the modification of the most important organ for a person.

There could be several reasons for what happened. Some of them indicate the presence of serious diseases in the body, so the results of fluorography should be taken seriously.

Causes of an enlarged heart

The weight of an average man’s heart is 332 grams, a woman’s – 253. It is considered normal if the weight of the organ varies within these limits.

As for the sizes, they are usually correlated with a person’s fist. For an organ to function normally, it is very important that all its parts (atria, ventricles) are normal, or rather, the thickness of their walls, length and width as a whole.

What to do if fluorography (x-ray, ultrasound) showed that the heart is enlarged and dilated?

How dangerous is it to literally have a big heart? And as a result of what can the organ become larger? Let's figure it out in order.

The most important reasons why the heart is larger than normal in a fluorography image include:

1. great physical activity;
2. diseases.

In people who engage in heavy physical labor every day, as well as in professional athletes, the heart also works harder: it is forced to beat more often and pump blood faster.

This leads to the fact that there are often more heart muscle cells and they grow. As a result, the weight of the organ and its size increase.

If physical activity in the future is moderate, an enlarged heart for this reason does not pose a health risk.

If a person subjects his body to excessive stress for a long time, then it is possible to develop a pathology such as a hypertrophied heart, which is already fraught with serious complications and even life-threatening.

The reason that the heart is enlarged in size can be diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary diseases: for example, hypertension, coronary disease) and the heart itself (viral, inflammatory diseases), as well as heart defects.

So, if there is a defect and the organ is unable to function normally in order to properly supply the entire body with blood, the organ can enlarge.

Coronary diseases

Hypertension is the most common cause of heart enlargement.

This is explained by the fact that due to increased blood pressure, the organ is forced to pump large volumes of it and work in enhanced mode.

This causes the heart muscles to enlarge and the organ itself to expand.

If a person has ischemia, the heart muscle cells constantly do not receive enough nutrients, as a result of which they degenerate, and connective tissue appears in their place.

The latter, unlike muscle tissue, is not capable of contraction; as a result, the organ cavities become deformed and increase in size.

What to do if an x-ray showed that the organ is enlarged, and the cause of this phenomenon is a disease of the cardiovascular system?

The answer to this question is simple and obvious - treat the root cause and return the organ to normal limits.

If a patient is diagnosed with hypertension, he is usually prescribed pharmaceuticals that lower blood pressure. The latter helps restore the normal size of the organ.

A patient with hypertension or coronary artery disease who has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart must take medications.

The fact is that despite the increased size of the organ, a large heart performs its most important function - pumping blood - much worse, which means that human organs and systems do not receive the nutrients they need - heart failure develops, and the whole body suffers.

That is, returning the organ to its normal size helps prevent heart failure, which in some cases can simply save a person’s life.

Non-coronary diseases

Another fairly common cause of an enlarged heart is inflammatory processes affecting muscle tissue (carditis), primarily rheumatic carditis.

So, if a person has suffered a serious infection such as tonsillitis or scarlet fever, complications (rheumatism) can also affect the most important organ that transports blood.

In this case, the muscle loses its elasticity, and the ventricles are overstretched, as a result of which the size of the organ can increase several times, and its functionality, accordingly, will decrease several times.

In this regard, timely treatment of rheumatic carditis is very important. To date, drugs have been developed to completely eliminate streptococcal infections and prevent overstretching of the heart.

If therapy is not followed, the person may die. In addition, being a carrier of streptococcus, the patient infects others.

Endocarditis is an inflammatory disease that affects the internal cavity of the heart and its valves.

Endocarditis in an advanced stage causes expansion of the organ, loss of muscle elasticity and ability to contract. The disease requires immediate treatment.

Myocarditis is a consequence of viral infections, accompanied by arrhythmia and shortness of breath, and heart failure may occur.
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In this regard, a patient with myocarditis needs immediate medical attention and supportive care.

Chronic alcohol consumption can cause cardiomyopathy and cardiac dystrophy, as a result of which the heart cavities expand and the heartbeat rhythm changes significantly.

Also, patients with alcoholism, as a rule, have high blood pressure - another factor that contributes to the modification of the heart muscle.

If a person recovers from alcoholism and stops drinking alcohol, and if he has hypertension, takes blood pressure-lowering medications, after some time the organ will restore its normal size.

Thus, if a fluorography image reveals an increase in the size of the heart, you should immediately contact a specialist, find out the cause of the pathological changes and, if necessary, begin therapy: the problem is solvable in most cases.

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Cardiomegaly - what is it?

Normally, the size of the heart is individual for everyone. They depend on the person’s build, gender, age. It is believed that the size of the organ is approximately equal to the size of a palm clenched into a fist. Nevertheless, there are limits that separate normal from pathological. An enlarged heart is called cardiomegaly. It can be detected both during a physical examination and through instrumental diagnostics. In most cases, the ventricle of the heart is enlarged, predominantly the left one. Less commonly, cardiomegaly occurs on the right side. Enlargement of the organ appears due to hypertrophy of the muscle layer, as well as due to stretching of the myocardium (dilatation). This phenomenon rarely occurs in a short time. Typically, cardiomegaly is preceded by a long-term chronic disease.

Enlarged heart: causes of pathology

Cardiomegaly can occur due to many reasons. This depends on the patient’s age, hereditary predisposition, body weight and lifestyle. Sometimes an enlarged heart is considered a normal variant. In this case, cardiomegaly should be moderate. Such cases include constant physical activity, pregnancy, and rarely adolescence. A significant increase in heart size in this category of people is also a pathology. The following causes of cardiomegaly are distinguished:

1. Congenital defects (CHD). They are formed during pregnancy and can be of different sizes. With large or combined defects, heart failure occurs quickly. In this case, cardiomegaly can manifest itself already in the first months of a child’s life. If the defects are minor, the enlargement of the heart occurs gradually, sometimes not at all.
2. Inflammatory diseases. These include myo-, endo- and pericarditis. Most often, these pathologies occur in childhood and adolescence. Cardiomegaly is observed only in cases where the disease has become chronic. Also included in this group is dilated myopathy.
3. Acquired heart defects. Formed in adulthood. Most often they are a consequence of rheumatism.
4. Chronic cardiovascular pathologies. These include myocardial ischemia (heart attack, angina), arterial hypertension.
5. Chronic lung diseases. Among them are bronchial asthma, COPD.
6. Pathologies of other organs and systems. An enlarged heart can be observed with severe anemia, renal and liver failure, and hyperthyroidism.
7. Metabolic syndrome (obesity combined with diabetes).

Mechanism of development of cardiomegaly

The pathogenesis of cardiomegaly depends on the cause. Most often, left ventricular hypertrophy occurs in people with metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, or arterial hypertension. When oxygen supply is low, the heart muscle contracts more strongly than usual and gradually increases in size. Roughly the same thing happens with hypertension. In this case, the heart does not have time to pump blood quickly enough due to its high pressure, so the organ requires more effort. The mechanism of development of cardiomegaly differs in stenosis and valve insufficiency. In the case of these pathologies, the blood does not completely flow into the adjacent chamber or vessel (aorta, pulmonary artery) and causes stretching of one of the parts of the heart. With long-standing defects, both the ventricle and the atrium enlarge. In some cases, hypertrophy of the entire organ may occur. Right ventricular failure occurs with pulmonary pathologies and liver diseases.

Symptoms of an enlarged heart

Symptoms of an enlarged heart can be expressed to varying degrees. With left ventricular hypertrophy, patients complain of shortness of breath. Attacks of shortness of breath occur during exercise, heavy lifting, fast and long walking.

How to diagnose cardiomegaly?

Anamnesis is not sufficient to identify cardiomegaly. To do this, it is necessary to palpate and percussion the organ. By tapping the heart, it becomes clear to the doctor whether its size is within the normal range or beyond its limits. In addition, an X-ray examination of the chest is performed. With cardiomegaly, the outline of the organ in the images is enlarged. To determine in which departments hypertrophy is observed, an ECG is performed. Thanks to this study, it is possible to learn about the cause of the disease (ischemia, lung pathology). EchoCG (ultrasound of the heart) is considered the most accurate for diagnosis. It allows you to determine the thickness of the myocardium in each chamber, the size of the cavities, and the presence of dilatation.

Treatment for an Enlarged Heart

When this symptom is detected, patients wonder what to do if the heart is enlarged. Treatment should begin only after a complete examination and clarification of the causes. If necessary, bronchodilators, antihypertensives, and diuretics are prescribed. In some cases, a combination of these agents is necessary. Regardless of the cause, it is important to take medications to suppress heart failure. These include the drugs “Coronal”, “Propronalol”, “Captopril”, etc. In case of severe heart defects, surgical treatment is necessary. It is also prescribed for persistent ischemia and acute circulatory failure.

Enlarged heart: consequences of the disease

Unfortunately, heart failure rarely goes away completely, as it is a chronic, progressive disease. With inadequate therapy or its absence, the consequences can be serious. In the case of severe cardiomegaly, the patient constantly lacks air, as a result of which all organs suffer. The disease can also lead to myocardial infarction, stroke, thromboembolism of the heart or pulmonary vessels.

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Causes

• ischemic disease;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• inflammation of the heart muscle;

Diagnostics

• echocardiogram;
• palpation and auscultation;
• radiography;
• CT scan;
• blood chemistry;
• caterization;
• biopsy.

Treatment

Usually,

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Clinical angiology

— diseases of arteries and veins of inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical picture and diagnosis, treatment and prevention of vascular diseases.

WHY DOES THE HEART ENLARGED?

An electrocardiogram showed that I have a large heart. It turns out that this is what cardiologists call an enlarged left ventricle. Why is this happening? What are its consequences and is it necessary to undergo special treatment? S. ZHIGALKINA, Vladimir region.

Excessive enlargement of the heart (myocardial hypertrophy, “bull” heart) can be caused by a congenital defect, genetic predisposition, or severe stress. Inflammation of the heart muscle, which often occurs after viral and infectious diseases, is dangerous. They can serve as an impetus for the appearance of a “bull” heart. But the main causes of myocardial hypertrophy are considered to be coronary heart disease and hypertension.

In people who suffer from high blood pressure (above 180/100), the risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy increases by 2 times. Myocardial hypertrophy is also caused by diabetes mellitus, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

What happens to the heart? It consists of only 25% contracting cells. The remaining 75% is connective tissue, which, with active work, like any other muscle, begins to grow. In diseases of the cardiovascular system, following an increase in the load on the heart muscle, a radical restructuring of all metabolic processes occurs. A large heart increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and leads to chronic heart failure. Therefore (knowing about the hereditary predisposition to heart diseases) it is important to take preventive measures in a timely manner.

First of all, you need to treat the underlying disease - ischemia or hypertension. The doctor prescribes antihypertensive (pressure-lowering) drugs and recommends monitoring cholesterol levels and following a diet. The basic rule is less fat and salt. You need to move more and be in the fresh air more often.

Medicinal preparations can be taken as adjuncts for the treatment of myocardial hypertrophy and normalization of blood pressure. Take 3 parts of motherwort, 2 parts each of dried rosemary and wild rosemary, and 1 part of kidney tea (you can buy it at the pharmacy). Pour 1 tbsp. spoon of crushed collection 1.5 cups of hot water and boil for 5 minutes. Then remove the broth from the stove, wrap it in something warm and leave for 4 hours.

After this, strain and take warm 3 times a day, 0.5 cups 20 minutes before meals. Mashed cranberries with sugar will also help strengthen the heart muscle (1 tablespoon 3 times a day after meals).

“Big heart” is highly likely to be inherited. Therefore, all family members who have had cases of this disease should periodically do an ECG and echo-CG.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, strictly follow the cardiologist’s recommendations. For minor complaints, sedatives are usually taken and physical activity is limited.

PHYTO first aid kit

Boil milk and pour into a thermos overnight. Or you can simmer it until a brown crust forms on the surface in the oven (best of all in a Russian oven). You will get baked milk. Drink this milk little by little throughout the day with strawberry jam. This is necessary to strengthen the heart muscle.

3. POROTSKAYA, Kaluga region.

Based on materials from the magazine “Simple Recipes for Health” No. 4 (64), 2011.

G.N. Uzhegov. Heart disease: symptoms, treatment, prevention

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When people talk about someone having a “bull’s heart,” they mean a healthy heart that can withstand heavy physical activity.

In medical terminology, there is also the term “bull heart”, but the interpretation of this term in this case is completely different.

A greatly enlarged heart can often be observed in people who abuse beer. In this case, the heart is called “beer” or “bull”. A large amount of beer (3-5 liters per day) sharply increases the load on the heart (a lot of beer means a lot of fluid that needs to be pumped), and in order to cope with this additional load, the heart begins to turn on its compensatory mechanisms. As a result of this, the heart muscle increases in volume (sometimes two to three times), and the cavities of the heart also expand. At first, such an enlargement of the heart compensates for the additional loads, but then the heart begins to get tired and quickly wears out.

The heart muscle becomes flabby, and an increasing number of working muscle cells are replaced by connective or fatty tissue. Eventually, a moment comes when the heart can no longer cope with physical stress and, as a result, edema, dropsy, shortness of breath appear, the liver enlarges and rhythm disturbances occur.

And since people who are excessively fond of beer almost always suffer from obesity, all this taken together very quickly leads to the development of cardiovascular failure. It should be noted that the characteristic and most common sign of “bull’s heart” is rhythm disturbances and these disturbances are treated with great difficulty.

How to treat an enlarged heart?

Cardiomegaly or enlarged heart is a pathology characterized by the expansion of all four cardiac chambers, as a result of which the organ acquires hypertrophied size and loses its functionality. Although not independent, the disease becomes a consequence of numerous cardiac ailments.

An enlarged heart often occurs in people who lead an active lifestyle, devoting most of their time to sports and physical activity. This is quite natural: the active process of pumping blood effectively trains the heart muscle, as a result of which its mass and size increase. In this case we are not talking about pathology.

Bovine heart syndrome occurs when the heart muscle is exhausted. Weak muscle fibers are not able to provide increased blood flow into the enlarged heart ventricles. The disease occurs when the muscles are unable to effectively support the functioning of the large heart. A person suffering from high blood pressure often runs the risk of becoming the owner of a bull's heart. In conditions when you have to overcome hypertension in the blood vessels, a large heart works harder and wears out faster. As a result, heart failure, heart attack, and stroke develop.

Causes

Despite the achievements of modern medicine, specialists cannot always determine the cause of the disease. However, the most common ones are:

• systematic increase in blood pressure;
• ischemic disease;
• numerous viral infections that target the heart;
• renal failure and other kidney diseases;
• congenital anomaly of the heart;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• excessive alcohol consumption, drug addiction;
• cases of intrauterine development of the syndrome indicate a genetic predisposition;
• inflammation of the heart muscle;
• complications after suffering from tonsillitis, scarlet fever, influenza;
• severe stress, exposure to psycho-emotional overload;
• rheumatic carditis, septic endocarditis.

The paradox of the disease is that a large heart contains a minimal amount of muscle tissue. But it is the strong elastic muscles that are responsible for the effective functioning of the cardiovascular system.

It is necessary to systematically train the heart muscle. Moderate physical activity along with adequate therapy will help return the heart to normal volumes.

Diagnostics

As medical statistics show, diagnosing bovine heart disease is often very difficult. The patient may complain of feeling unwell, and the symptoms may indicate the presence of other ailments. Experts use the following diagnostic methods:

• echocardiogram;
• palpation and auscultation;
• radiography;
• CT scan;
• blood chemistry;
• caterization;
• biopsy.

Timely consultation with a doctor, high-quality diagnosis, and a properly designed treatment regimen can quickly restore health and prevent the development of complications.

Treatment

Usually, Treatment of bull's heart syndrome is aimed at the root cause, the underlying disease. The exception is congenital heart defects. Depending on the etymology of the underlying disease, medical and surgical treatment methods are used. People of the older age category are advised to eliminate the manifestations of coronary and hypertension. When taken systematically and carefully, medications help lower blood pressure and restore the effective functioning of the main organ. These include Enam, Enap, Diroton, Monopril and other angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Drug treatment may be aimed at removing excess fluid from the body due to kidney failure. Rheumatic carditis and myocarditis are quite difficult to treat even with the most modern drugs. To prevent these diseases, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance through physical exercise and hardening.

Surgical intervention is an extreme measure that is resorted to when it is necessary to replace a damaged heart valve and stimulate the functioning of blood vessels. The nature and result of treatment directly depends on the etymology, prerequisites of the disease, and the patient’s condition at the current period of time. Numerous traditional medicines have proven themselves to be effective as prophylaxis and adjuvant therapy. It is worth remembering that the final diagnosis can only be made by a specialist based on research results. Self-medication is dangerous due to the development of complications and poses a direct threat to life.

Normally, men's hearts are much larger than women's. It is now known that the normal heart volume in men is approximately 760 cm³, while in women around 580 cm³ is considered good.

It is believed that such a difference in heart size among representatives of different sexes is due to different volumes of the chest. As a rule, an enlarged heart is observed in adults, while in children such pathological changes in the structure of organ tissue occur extremely rarely.

The most common causes of cardiomegaly in adults include:

• pregnancy;
• difficult childbirth;
• idiopathic cardiomyopathy;
• aortic insufficiency;
• stenosis;
• cor pulmonale;
• renal failure;
• cardiac ischemia;
• effusion in the pericardial sac;
• inflammation of the heart muscle;
• rheumatic heart disease;
• systemic lupus erythematosus;
• aortoarteritis;
• scleroderma;
• severe stress;
• septic endocarditis;
• severe anemia;
• high blood pressure;
• arterial hypertension;
• alcohol and drug addiction;
• Chagas disease.

Normally, the work of the entire heart is ensured by strong elastic muscles, but with the development of a pathological condition such as cardiomegaly, there is a rapid increase in the volume of organs and a decrease in the amount of muscle tissue. As the heart increases in size, there is a gradual decrease in blood output and a slowdown in its circulation throughout the human body.

As all the walls of the heart hypertrophy, it loses its ability to provide normal blood flow to all tissues of the body, which provokes the development of congestive processes. Developing compensatory phenomena, although at first they can provide the body with the necessary level of blood supply, subsequently no longer allow the heart to fully pump blood, and the development of heart failure and premature death of a person is observed.

An enlarged heart in an adult is also called myocardial hypertrophy syndrome. Occurring against the background of an underlying cardiac disease, this condition can aggravate the overall clinical picture and worsen the prognosis of the underlying pathology.

Enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart is less common than the left; in rare cases, there are changes in the size of both ventricles. According to statistics, against the background of concomitant cardiac pathologies, myocardial hypertrophy leads to mortality in 75-80% of cases.

Therefore, timely detection and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system will be the key to a stable state of health.

The average heart weight in adult men is about 330 grams, in women - about 250 grams; to determine the external size of your own heart, just look at your clenched fist - the volume of the heart is about the same.

Despite the achievements of modern medicine, specialists cannot always determine the cause of the disease. However, the most common ones are:

• systematic increase in blood pressure;
• ischemic disease;
• numerous viral infections that target the heart;
• renal failure and other kidney diseases;
• congenital anomaly of the heart;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• excessive alcohol consumption, drug addiction;
• cases of intrauterine development of the syndrome indicate a genetic predisposition;
• inflammation of the heart muscle;
• complications after suffering from tonsillitis, scarlet fever, influenza;
• severe stress, exposure to psycho-emotional overload;
• rheumatic carditis, septic endocarditis.

The paradox of the disease is that a large heart contains a minimal amount of muscle tissue. But it is the strong elastic muscles that are responsible for the effective functioning of the cardiovascular system.

It is necessary to systematically train the heart muscle. Moderate physical activity along with adequate therapy will help return the heart to normal volumes.

This may be excessive stress on the heart muscle or heart or vascular defects.

Relatively safe causes of cardiac muscle growth

The most important organ that ensures the vital functions of the entire body consists of 4 chambers: two ventricles and two atria. There are two sections of the heart - right and left, each of which includes an atrium and a ventricle. Normally, the boundaries of the heart change throughout life.

People who play sports experience an increase in its size, which is considered a completely natural process and does not cause any cause for concern. The weight of a man's heart is 332 grams, a woman's - 253 grams. An enlarged heart is observed when the myocardium grows and (or) expands its cavity.

Most often, the organ enlarges to the left, which is observed in many diseases: hypertension, stagnation of blood in the systemic circulation, heart defects. Enlargement of all parts of the organ is dangerous.

This condition is called “bull’s heart”, and only surgical intervention can improve a person’s quality of life. The reasons influencing the enlargement of the organ are:

1. Hypertonic disease. An increase in pressure leads to changes in the cardiovascular system: vascular tone increases, the thickness of the muscle layer increases, and the systemic circulation suffers.
2. Coronary heart disease: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. Oxygen starvation of the organ tissues occurs with the death of their cells and replacement with connective tissue, which leads to an increase in the size of its left section.
3. Rheumatic heart disease. It is a consequence of tonsillitis (frequent tonsillitis). Rheumatic disease is manifested by an inflammatory process occurring in the tissues of the organ. As a result, the valves suffer and defects form.
4. Myocarditis.
5. Renal dysfunction.
6. Alcohol abuse. The most common example is alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
7. Smoking.
8. Acute pericarditis (inflammation of the serous membrane).
9. Congenital heart defects.

Enlarged heart in children

Suspecting a similar condition in a child, the pediatrician will send him for x-rays, biopsy of cardiac tissue, echocardiography and ECG. Such measures will help to timely identify possible pathology and begin treatment.

Treatment methods for hypertrophied myocardium consist of establishing the normal functioning of the ventricles and heart valves, improving tissue nutrition and vascular permeability.

Reducing the volume of fluid that circulates throughout the body will also reduce the load on the myocardium and stabilize the patient’s condition.

People with hypertrophied myocardial syndrome must be registered with a cardiologist and systematically undergo drug therapy. Regular examination of the heart is indicated to monitor the situation over time.

As a rule, an enlarged heart is detected by chance during a routine examination and chest x-ray. The diagnosis of an enlarged heart, or cardiomegaly, shocks parents. Cardiomegaly can be primary or secondary. Secondary cardiomegaly develops against the background of infectious diseases, toxic lesions, and also with respiratory failure.

An enlarged heart in a child is accompanied by a slowdown in weight gain and general development, tissue swelling, frequent colds, shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbances, pale or bluish skin.

Symptoms

For a long time, ongoing changes in the tissues of the heart may remain unnoticed by patients, especially if there are other diseases that occur with severe symptoms.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that there are simply no specific symptoms of an enlarged heart. The thing is that many of the signs present in a condition such as cardiomegaly are characteristic of primary diseases that provoke tissue hypertrophy.

In completely healthy people, the following symptoms may indicate the development of cardiomegaly:

• heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
• dry cough;
• swelling of the legs and whole body;
• increased fatigue;
• chest pain.

At first, such manifestations may be quite weakly expressed. However, as tissue hypertrophy occurs, symptomatic manifestations begin to increase as the heart gradually loses its ability to perform its function. The consequences of expansion of the walls of the heart and enlargement of the ventricles can be the most unfavorable.

Enlargement of the heart muscle appears in relation to individual individual chambers, less often it is observed in all chambers. Pathology usually develops due to additional stress on the organ, which has to do more work than usual.

That is, muscle mass is gained with increased blood pumping. This is especially noticeable in inflammatory lung diseases, which lead to oxygen starvation.

It is worth remembering that there are no characteristic signs of pathology; it is manifested by symptoms of the diseases that led to its development. The following is most often observed:

• Severe shortness of breath even with little physical exertion.
• Swelling of the lower extremities and other parts of the body.
• Feeling of heaviness on the right side under the ribs.
• Pain in the head, which is accompanied by tinnitus.
• High blood pressure.
• Dry, causeless cough that gets worse when lying down.
• Pain in the retrosternal region on the left.
• Fast fatiguability.
• Dizziness to the point of loss of consciousness (the rarest symptom).

Attention! Often there are cases of asymptomatic progression, then the pathology is discovered by chance during a routine examination.

Causes of heart enlargement

Under the influence of physical activity, the main organ gradually enlarges. For athletes, this process is considered natural. This condition does not cause deterioration in health and does not require treatment.

In addition, cardiomegaly is promoted by:

• inflammatory processes in the membranes of the heart;
• myocardial infarction;
• kidney dysfunction;
• ischemic disease;
• hypertension. Higher blood pressure requires more energy to pump blood. With constant tension, hypertrophy of the entire organ occurs;
• carditis. Complications appear after suffering from tonsillitis or scarlet fever. If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, the organ may occupy half of the chest;
• alcohol abuse.

Normally, a man’s heart weighs 332 grams, and a woman’s – 253 g. The organ enlarges as a result of the growth of the heart muscle or ventricles.

Symptoms of an enlarged heart

Signs of cardiomegaly can be easily confused with other cardiac diseases. In this case, a person experiences:

• chest pain;
• dyspnea;
• swelling of the limbs;
• weakness, fatigue;
• pale skin;
• loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis of an enlarged heart

Only a cardiologist can determine changes in heart volume after an examination. Several diagnostic techniques are used for this:

• ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
• radiography;
• electrocardiography (ECG);
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Changes detected in a timely manner are easier to treat. At a later stage, only surgery will help. Therefore, do not put off visiting a doctor if you feel unwell.

Diagnostics

Modern diagnostic methods do not allow detecting an increase in heart volume in the early stages, since the symptomatic manifestations of this dangerous condition can be a consequence of other diseases of the cardiovascular system, which often confuses even qualified cardiologists. To confirm the diagnosis, the following activities are carried out:

• radiography;
• palpation;
• listening;
• echocardiogram;
• catheterization;
• blood chemistry;
• biopsy.

In rare cases, when an increase in heart volume is detected in the early stages, this process can be stopped with medication. When the disease has already entered into full force, the main treatment should be aimed at the root causes of this pathological condition.

Depending on the nature of the root cause of the problem, treatment can be carried out using both medical and surgical methods.

As a rule, medications are prescribed that help stabilize the heart in case of one or another primary disease.

Among other things, the patient must observe a special regime of wakefulness and activity, as well as a special gentle diet. It is very important to eat small portions and avoid overeating.

Surgical treatment involves ventricular myotomy. Such a surgical intervention cannot be performed on all patients, as it is associated with a high risk of death on the operating table.

In severe cases, when other treatments do not have the necessary effect, a heart transplant is required.

So when is the diagnosis of cardiomegaly valid and by what methods can it be confirmed? Of course, in first place in terms of diagnostic value is echocardioscopy (ultrasound of the heart).

Normal heart sizes according to ultrasound correspond to the following indicators:

• EDV – end diastolic volume – 110-145 ml,
• ESV – end systolic volume – 45-75 ml,
• EF - ejection fraction – 55-65%,
• SV – stroke volume – 60-80 ml.

With cardiomegaly, the described volumetric parameters increase. The dimensions of the heart cavities and the thickness of the hypertrophied walls of the atria and ventricles, if any, are also measured.

EF, however, may be reduced, significantly, in patients with chronic heart failure or dilated cardiomyopathy. In addition to measuring the characteristics of the heart, the configuration of the organ and the activity of the valve apparatus are visually assessed.

As methods complementing echocardioscopy, chest radiography, electrocardiogram, cardiac MRI or puncture biopsy of cardiac tissue are used (if a cardiac tumor is suspected to verify the diagnosis, very rarely).

Heart ultrasound remains the “gold standard” for diagnosing cardiac pathology, especially in newborns and children in the first year of life. This study should definitely be carried out by athletes and people with a hypersthenic type of constitution, to exclude serious cardiac pathology.

Modern medicine has developed a large number of diagnostic methods for detecting heart diseases. Making a diagnosis begins with collecting an anamnesis, which is based on the patient’s complaints and examination. The doctor clarifies the presence of chronic diseases, bad habits of the patient, and previous surgical interventions. Next, the following research methods are prescribed:

1. Chest X-ray - the image clearly shows the shadow of the expansion of the heart, and blood stagnation is detected.
2. Electrocardiography (ECG).
3. Echocardiography (EchoCG) determines the physical parameters of the heart muscle, including the size of the chambers, the presence of necrosis and ischemia of the heart.
4. Ultrasound of the heart muscle.
5. Computed tomography (CT).
6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
7. Immunological and biochemical blood test, which determines the level of hemoglobin, bilirubin, urea, protein and hormones.

Important! The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the correct diagnosis and cause of the disease. Therefore before. Before treating pathology, the doctor carefully studies the results of tests and instrumental studies.

As medical statistics show, diagnosing bovine heart disease is often very difficult. The patient may complain of feeling unwell, and the symptoms may indicate the presence of other ailments. Experts use the following diagnostic methods:

• echocardiogram;
• palpation and auscultation;
• radiography;
• CT scan;
• blood chemistry;
• caterization;
• biopsy.

Timely consultation with a doctor, high-quality diagnosis, and a properly designed treatment regimen can quickly restore health and prevent the development of complications.

Further diagnostics may include an ECG, Holter monitoring, and various blood tests.

Treatment

First of all, the doctor must collect the patient’s medical history: find out about the presence of chronic diseases, previous operations, possible bad habits. After which research is carried out.

Percussion determines the size and boundaries of the organ, which makes it possible to identify which parts of the heart are enlarged, and then judge the possible causes of the disease. The laboratory performs biochemical blood tests, fluorography, ultrasound, and computed tomography.

If a doctor determines that the causes of a large heart are chronic or acute diseases, then treatment of these diseases must be carried out. If it is started on time, the organ decreases in size.

If the cause is a heart defect, then you need to consult a cardiac surgeon and, if necessary, undergo surgery. This will allow you to maintain the functionality of this vital organ for a long time. After surgery, symptomatic treatment is prescribed.

It is necessary to slow down the process of heart enlargement in the patient. If a person moves little, does not watch his diet, or has a number of bad habits, to solve the problem he needs to reconsider his lifestyle. This means starting to exercise in moderation and eating foods high in vitamins and microelements.

If treatment is not started promptly, the consequences can be very serious. That is why you should not neglect the recommendations if the doctor prescribes diet, sports or surgery.

For any cause of the disease, drug treatment is prescribed that will last throughout the patient’s life. Not every person’s body is able to survive surgery due to age or individual characteristics. As a result, surgical intervention is prescribed only in exceptional cases.

If we talk about the treatment of “bull’s heart” without congenital defects in newborns and young children, then drug therapy is primarily prescribed - captopril 1.8 mg/kg of the newborn’s weight 3-4 times a day.

This drug is an ACE inhibitor and has an organoprotective effect on cardiac tissue. If, under the influence of this drug, there is a gradual decrease in EDV and ESR indicators according to ultrasound results, then we can talk about the beginning of recovery.

Normalization of cardiac activity occurs gradually, over two to three years.

If a child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, surgery is necessary within the time frame established by the doctor (pediatric cardiac surgeon) during an in-person examination.

In adults, therapy is aimed at eliminating the causative disease that caused the enlargement of the heart. For defects, surgical treatment is also indicated; for chronic heart failure - diuretics (indapamide 1.

5 mg in the morning, veroshpiron 25-50 mg in the morning, etc.), for hypertension - antihypertensive drugs (perindopril 5 mg x 1 time, enalapril 5 mg x 2 times, etc.), for hormonal disorders - correction of hormonal levels under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

In extremely severe cases, when the patient’s quality of life sharply suffers and the tolerance for minimal household activities decreases, he may undergo a heart transplant. Currently, such operations are carried out in Russia and abroad.

Treatment directly depends on the causes of the disease. All activities are primarily aimed at organizing a healthy lifestyle for the patient and eliminating the cause of the disease. The patient is recommended a special diet that excludes fatty, salty and spicy foods, and giving up bad habits. The doctor prescribes special exercises.

The following medications may be prescribed:

• Medicines from the group of diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body, thereby easing the load on the heart.
• Anticoagulants are medications that block the formation of blood clots and eliminate the risk of ischemia or alleviate its symptoms.
• Means for normalizing cardiac activity.

Surgical intervention is prescribed only in emergency cases when the patient's life is at risk. The most dangerous and advanced form is considered to be “bull heart”, in this case only a transplant can help.

As a rule, treatment for bull's heart syndrome is aimed at the root cause, the underlying disease. The exception is congenital heart defects.

Depending on the etymology of the underlying disease, medical and surgical treatment methods are used. People of the older age category are advised to eliminate the manifestations of coronary and hypertension.

When taken systematically and carefully, medications help lower blood pressure and restore the effective functioning of the main organ. These include Enam, Enap, Diroton, Monopril and other angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Drug treatment may be aimed at removing excess fluid from the body due to kidney failure. Rheumatic carditis and myocarditis are quite difficult to treat even with the most modern drugs. To prevent these diseases, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance through physical exercise and hardening.

Surgical intervention is an extreme measure that is resorted to when it is necessary to replace a damaged heart valve and stimulate the functioning of blood vessels. The nature and result of treatment directly depends on the etymology, prerequisites of the disease, and the patient’s condition at the current period of time.

Numerous traditional medicines have proven themselves to be effective as prophylaxis and adjuvant therapy. It is worth remembering that the final diagnosis can only be made by a specialist based on research results.

Self-medication is dangerous due to the development of complications and poses a direct threat to life.

It consists in eliminating the underlying disease, one of the symptoms of which is a large heart.

Since bovine heart disease is usually a secondary disease, its treatment should take place in parallel with the treatment of the main disease. In addition, it is worth remembering that cardiomegaly is an irreversible disease, so the goal of therapy is to slow down the deformation of the heart. Among the conservative methods used:

• antihypertensive drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors;
• anticoagulants to prevent the formation of blood clots;
• beta blockers that normalize cardiac activity;
• diuretics if excess sodium is found in the body.

If there is no result, they resort to surgical methods, the purpose of which is to maintain or normalize heart function:

• installation of a pacemaker;
• valve implantation;
• implantation of circulatory support devices: Jarvik 2000, Novacor, HeartMate;
• coronary bypass surgery.

In addition to treatment, the patient must monitor his lifestyle: give up bad habits, follow a diet low in low-density fats, and give the body physical activity. When fighting cardiomegaly, it is necessary to eliminate all factors that can aggravate its course.

The patient may have problems with blood pressure, which needs to be monitored. In some cases, the patient is prescribed medications that reduce it. Drugs that normalize heart rhythm may also be prescribed. During the examination, it is necessary to find out whether the patient has lung diseases or ischemia. If they are present, it is necessary to treat these ailments in parallel.

In the case of inflammatory processes, the use of antibacterial therapy is mandatory. When fighting the disease, you should avoid drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages, as well as drinks containing caffeine. You should also give up smoking and taking drugs.

To get rid of the disease as quickly as possible, you need to arrange a weekly fasting day for yourself - therapeutic fasting, during which you can only drink freshly squeezed juices and water. This will cleanse the body. Speaking about how to treat a disease such as bovine heart, it is worth mentioning the benefits of sports and hardening, which help improve immunity.

Proper nutrition is of great importance in the fight against cardiomegaly. The Mediterranean diet is preferable for this. Thanks to it, you can not only saturate the body with useful elements, but also normalize it, and if there is no need for this, simply maintain normal body weight.

Depending on the degree of the disease, medications are selected to help normalize heart volume. The course of therapy often includes:

• diuretics. Diuretics help reduce pressure in the arteries. Furosemide, Lizax, Trifas are usually prescribed;
• anticoagulants. Reduce the risk of blood clots. For example, “Warfarin”, “Angioks”, “Heparin” are considered effective;
• angiotensin receptor blockers. Drugs that help restore the functions of the cardiovascular system. (“Losartan”, “Valsartan”, “Eprosartan”);
• beta blockers. To reduce the pulse rate, Atenolol and Digoxin are used; "Anaprilin."

In addition to drug treatment, you will need to make adjustments to your usual lifestyle. For this it is recommended:

• to refuse from bad habits;
• minimize the consumption of salty, spicy, fatty foods;
• normalize weight;
• sleep at least 7 hours;
• do physical exercise daily. Half an hour of morning exercises will help you lose weight, improve your mood and strengthen the overall tone of your body.

Surgical methods for treating an enlarged heart

If conservative therapy does not bring results, and the patient’s well-being continues to deteriorate, the cardiologist recommends surgery. Depending on each specific case, certain surgical intervention will be required:

• cardioverter-defibrillator. A small device is implanted under the skin in the upper chest. With the help of this defibrillator, heart rhythm is corrected;
• valve replacement. The damaged heart valve is replaced with a new one in order to restore its normal functioning. The duration of the procedure is 3-6 hours;
• A heart transplant is a last resort. First, the doctor signs the patient up for a transplant. The average waiting period varies from 200 days to a year. A successful operation makes it possible to live an additional 5-10 years.

Consequences of the disease

In case of increased myocardial activity and its subsequent increase, it is necessary to be observed by an experienced cardiologist and undergo regular examination courses. An important part of drug therapy will be a review of your lifestyle. In particular, you need:

• Give up bad habits - alcohol and cigarette abuse.
• Get rid of obesity and extra pounds to reduce the load on the heart muscle.
• Reduce the amount of salted, smoked, cholesterol-rich foods you consume.
• Balance the diet, enrich it with microelements and substances to normalize heart function.
• Reduce inadequate stress on the heart.

If measures are not taken to maintain the myocardium in a healthy state, this can lead to the development of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and even death.

People with alcohol addiction are at particular risk. Against the background of constant intoxication, the heart of a drinker sometimes reaches very large sizes. Restoration of myocardial size can only occur if alcohol is completely abstained.

Medicine offers modern drugs and treatment methods that, if used in a timely manner, will help reduce blood pressure, normalize blood flow to the myocardial muscle and return the heart to its original size. The main thing for successful treatment is to detect the pathology in time.

An enlarged heart can entail significant risks for the patient, which depend on the underlying disease that caused the enlarged heart. When the heart becomes too large, some parts of the myocardium are subject to greater pressure and therefore an increased risk of ischemia and dangerous complications such as stroke and heart attack.

However, statisticians note that one can live with the pathology without serious consequences, keeping it under control with the help of appropriate treatment. In Russia, in fact, about 9.4 million people have an enlarged heart, especially in the left ventricle.

Prognosis for an enlarged heart

The prognostic value of cardiomegaly is determined primarily by the nature, stage and duration of the causative disease. Thus, chronic heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy, for example, can very quickly progress to severe stages within two to three years.

Mortality among this group of patients is undoubtedly higher than among persons with operated heart disease and no heart failure. In any case, the prognosis is determined only as a result of the attending physician’s observation of the patient, and echocardioscopy data plays a significant role in this.

It depends on what exactly caused the enlargement of the heart:

• With arterial hypertension, the prognosis is favorable. If you take the medications prescribed by your doctor on time, your heart will soon return to normal and will no longer enlarge.
• In case of ventricular septal defect – relatively favorable. If the operation is not performed in time, there is a risk of developing aortic valve insufficiency, severe arrhythmias, left ventricular dysfunction and sudden death. If the patient is operated on, the heart will no longer bother him.
• For dilated cardiomyopathy – unfavorable. Full recovery occurs only after transplantation. However, it is not always possible to find a donor for a heart transplant. In addition, the risk of postoperative complications is high.
• In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – relatively unfavorable. With an asymptomatic course of the disease, patients die before the disease is detected. With proper therapy, the risk of death is reduced.
• Metabolic cardiomyopathy has a favorable prognosis. When metabolism is established, complete recovery occurs.
• With aortic stenosis without treatment, life expectancy ranges from 1 to 4 years from the onset of symptoms. If the operation is performed in a timely manner, the prognosis is relatively favorable.
• If mitral stenosis is left untreated, 50% of patients die within 5 years of the first symptoms appearing. After surgery, the prognosis is relatively favorable.
• In case of Ebstein's anomaly, it is relatively favorable. The risk of sudden death is 3–4%.
• For myocarditis – favorable. Complete recovery occurs after 4–8 weeks in 90% of cases, after a year – in 10% of cases.
• For exudative pericarditis – favorable. All operated patients recover.
• In case of amyloidosis – unfavorable. The maximum life expectancy is 5 years from the date of diagnosis.

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Diet for illness

The use of such a diet is indicated for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as bovine heart. Here are the basic principles of such nutrition:

• For breakfast you need to eat cereals, and for dessert you need to eat fruit.

The carbohydrates obtained from these products do not turn into excess weight. At the same time, such nutrition allows you to get the necessary elements for the normal functioning of the body throughout the day;

• For lunch you need to eat dishes containing protein and plant foods.

As a rule, these are vegetables, fruits, fish and meat dishes, low-fat dairy products, and hard cheese. Meat and fish must be dietary.

The Mediterranean diet in the treatment of a syndrome such as ox heart also involves eating seafood, and you should not give up first courses;

• It is necessary to have dinner with low-calorie foods. As a rule, these are freshly squeezed juices, low-fat yogurt, kefir, vegetables, and fruits.

Snacks are not prohibited with this diet, which is used in the treatment of an ailment such as bovine heart syndrome, but they can consist of low-fat yoghurts, vegetables, and fruits.

Not everyone knows which people have an enlarged heart. - a common occurrence. Every year, tens and hundreds of thousands of people die from cardiovascular pathology all over the world. Why does an enlarged heart occur and how does this condition manifest?

Features of cardiomegaly

An increase in heart size is called cardiomegaly. The mechanism of enlargement of this organ may be associated with enlargement of the ventricles (one or both at once), their expansion (dilatation), neoplastic processes and accumulation of metabolic products in the cavity of the organ. In this situation, true cardiomegaly develops. Often, an enlarged heart develops in a healthy person against the background of increased stress when carrying a child. Cardiomegaly is very often detected in athletes. It is possible to accurately determine the cause of a large heart only through special instrumental research methods.

In humans, the size of the heart can vary within small limits. It is known that men have slightly larger heart sizes than women. In men aged 20-30 years, the heart volume is about 760 cm³, in women - 580 cm³. The size of the heart is proportional to the weight of the human body. The features of the chest are of no small importance. An enlarged heart does not always indicate that a person is sick. A small heart is also not always the norm. Currently, the maximum heart size has not been established. It is individual for each person.

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Etiological factors

This condition occurs more often in adults than in children. The reasons for the expansion are varied. In most cases they are associated with cardiovascular pathology. In some conditions, cardiomegaly is detected very often, while in others it is rare. The most common reasons include:

• intense sports activities;
• bearing a child;
• Chagas disease;
• idiopathic cardiomyopathy;
• high blood pressure;
• various cardiac malformations (stenoses, aortic insufficiency);
• severe anemia;
• renal failure;
• (heart attack);
• the presence of effusion in the pericardial sac.

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Athletes have hearts

Some believe that professional sports helps strengthen the body and improve heart function. A peculiarity of the organ in athletes is that the left ventricle in some cases is significantly dilated and enlarged. This condition ensures increased blood flow and improves heart performance. It is important that the characteristics of the heart depend on the type of sports activity. It has been established that cardiomegaly is diagnosed much more often in people involved in sports that require great endurance. They include cycling, long-distance running, skiing, biathlon. A slightly smaller heart size is found in wrestlers and boxers. Is it good or bad?

The thing is that adaptation mechanisms have certain boundaries. With excessive stress on the heart muscle, the physiological expansion of its cavities (ventricles and atria) can become pathological. This occurs when the volume of the organ becomes more than 1200 cm³. The reason for this may be non-compliance with the training regime. In trained people, the volume of the heart muscle increases on average by 15-20%. An increase in the work of the heart and its dimensions is carried out due to the expansion of small blood vessels and the appearance of new ones. All this helps saturate the blood with oxygen and improve the trophism of the organ. In sports medicine, when assessing the level of functioning of the heart of athletes, pulse, pressure and the condition of the myocardium are taken into account. How slow is the pulse, is the blood pressure low, and is there hypertrophy of the heart muscle? All this indicates that the body is highly trained.

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Hypertension and cardiomyopathy

Symptoms of heart enlargement are most often observed with arterial hypertension. Millions of people suffer from this disease. Hypertension is more often detected in people in adulthood and old age. An increase in heart size always occurs with this pathology. At the initial stage of the disease, an increase in the apical impulse is noted. As the disease progresses, the left ventricular cavity expands and becomes larger. This helps to shift the boundaries of the heart down and to the left. Further, all other sections (both atria and the right ventricle) increase in size. It is important that the severity of changes in organ size depends on the course of hypertension. If it progresses very quickly, then cardiomegaly also develops transiently.

Cardiomyopathy is a common cause of this disease. Cardiomyopathy of the hypertrophic type leads to an increase in the volume of all departments, but the ventricles change to a greater extent. The size of the organ increases slightly. Viral infection is of no small importance in the development of this pathology. Idiopathic cardiomyopathy is of greatest importance. In this situation, it is not always possible to determine the cause of changes in cardiac function. In some cases, the etiological factors are alcoholism and viral infection.

Enlarged heart, which is often detected on x-ray, is considered a secondary pathology. That is, it is a symptom of another disease. The only exception is the physiological increase due to regular anaerobic exercise (in professional athletes).

This deviation in medicine is called hypertrophy. Symptoms of the disorder depend on which part of the organ is affected, as well as the root cause of this condition.

Causes of left atrial hypertrophy and treatment for an enlarged heart

Often this pathology occurs due to genetic defects (hereditary predisposition). Some of the most common triggers are high blood pressure and obesity.

Other reasons that can enlarge the left half include the following factors:

• Mitral valve stenosis and insufficiency. These diseases often provoke inflammation of the left atrium;
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - thickening of the ventricles (hereditary pathology);
• Aortic stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the aorta;
• Acute and chronic lung diseases. Any infection and inflammation of the respiratory system can lead to hypertrophy;
• Stress.

Symptoms of heart disease

In addition to the enlargement of a certain section, other signs of disturbance will certainly be present. First of all, they depend on the degree of violation. For example, minor changes may be completely asymptomatic.

Often this problem is accompanied by chest pain, fatigue, difficulty breathing and abnormal heartbeat. Physical work is difficult for patients. With excessive overexertion, attacks of shortness of breath may occur.

Enlarged heart: left ventricular hypertrophy on x-ray

The causes are similar to a disorder in the corresponding atrium: high pressure (hypertension), aortic valve stenosis, cardiomyopathy, excessive exercise, obesity. The risk increases with muscular dystrophies and Fabry disease.

The disorder develops gradually. In the early stages of left ventricular enlargement, there are no symptoms, then shortness of breath and chest pain occur. A person gets tired quickly, suffers from dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and may faint.

Consequences of a pathologically enlarged left ventricle of the heart

As a result of the disorder, the systemic circulation, which supplies blood to all organs and tissues, suffers. If left untreated, heart failure, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and heart attack may occur. This condition is often the cause of sudden cardiac arrest.

That is why it is necessary to periodically visit a cardiologist. This increases the chances of identifying the disease at an early stage and eliminating its consequences and complications.

Right atrial hypertrophy

This part of the organ is highly dependent on the functioning of the lungs, so pathologies of the respiratory system lead to changes in the right atrium and its ventricle.

The most common reasons:

• Lung diseases;
• Tricuspid valve stenosis;
• Tricuspid regurgitation (tricuspid valve insufficiency);
• Pulmonary embolism;
• Congenital heart defects.

The disorder is indicated by the same symptoms as when the right side of the organ is affected: fatigue, chest pain, difficulty breathing, rapid pulse.

Right ventricular hypertrophy

It is worth noting that this pathology is very rare. Its appearance can be triggered by only four reasons: pulmonary hypertension, tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary valve stenosis and ventricular septal defect.

As in other cases, the initial stage does not manifest itself in any way. As it progresses, difficulty breathing occurs, accompanied by chest pain. Dizziness can result in loss of consciousness. Swelling of the legs is also observed.

In many ways, the symptoms of hypertrophy are similar to angina pectoris and coronary heart disease. This is why it is necessary to consult a doctor. Only a cardiologist can, after a thorough examination and receive the research results, make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment for enlarged heart

The asymptomatic course of the disease, which occurs in almost half of the cases of hypertrophy, poses the greatest danger. Since the disease does not manifest itself in any way, the person continues to lead his usual lifestyle, but the pathology progresses and can result in sudden cardiac arrest.

A moderately enlarged heart, for example, also does not show itself in any way, but it can be easily detected using an ECG. Treatment is prescribed in any case, regardless of the stage of the deviation. It is advisable to take the course in a medical facility, under the supervision of doctors.

Therapy measures are also aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disorder. For example, if the heart is enlarged due to a congenital malformation, then surgical intervention methods are used, and then symptomatic therapy is prescribed. Modern medicine is quite successful in eliminating congenital anomalies even in the youngest patients.

A number of measures should be aimed at slowing down the hypertrophy process. For example, if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, eats poorly, and has bad habits, then taking any serious steps is absolutely useless. First you need to change your lifestyle. It is worth noting that physiological hypertrophy in athletes is aimed at increasing heart rate and heart volume for greater endurance.

Patients with hypertrophy should engage in running, swimming, and aerobics. They are shown moderate physical activity. As for the diet, it should include foods rich in omega-3 acids, vitamins, and microelements (magnesium, calcium, potassium).

These substances have a beneficial effect on the myocardium and metabolic processes in tissues. To restore normal oxygen supply to the blood, it is necessary to reduce increased loads (in athletes) or take long walks daily.

Medicines are prescribed in any case of illness. Their action is aimed at restoring myocardial nutrition and normalizing heart rhythm. These include antiarrhythmic drugs (eg Verapamil), beta-blockers.

These medications are taken throughout life. The doctor may prescribe angiotensin inhibitors and antihypertensive drugs (eg ramipril, enalapril). You definitely need to get rid of bad habits.

Since one of the reasons for an enlarged heart is obesity, in some cases it is necessary to combat excess weight, because it increases the load on the body. Such patients should limit salt, smoked, fatty, fried foods in their diet, eat more fresh fruits, and fermented milk. Baked goods, sweets, and animal fats are completely excluded from the menu.

A large heart is a disease characterized by enlargement of all four chambers of the muscular organ. Muscle tissue acquires hypertrophied size and loses its former functionality. In medicine, this pathology is called cardiomegaly.

Causes

Most often, large heart disease is a consequence of other pathologies. People suffering from hypertension are primarily at risk. High blood pressure puts a lot of stress on the cardiovascular system. At this moment, the heart muscle experiences strong tension, begins to stretch and increase in size, and the organ itself hypertrophies at this time.

An enlarged heart can also be a consequence of:

• ischemic disease;
• congenital pathology;
• alcoholism;
• inflammation of the heart muscle (carditis);
• complications caused by viral infections;
• severe stress;
• renal failure.

With coronary artery disease, blood flow to the heart decreases, which causes a malnutrition of muscle tissue. Due to nutritional deficiency, cardiac muscle cells begin to degenerate and are replaced by connective tissue. Unlike muscle, connective tissue is not elastic and cannot contract. As a result, the ventricular cavities are stretched.

Carditis that occurs against the background of streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) can also cause heart disease. Pathological changes in the inflamed muscle lead to its atrophy and enlargement.

"Heart of an Athlete"

People involved in professional sports are also susceptible to cardiomegaly. This is due to the fact that regular intense physical activity requires the heart to work more actively. This in turn leads to an increase in the size of the muscle tissue of the heart.

Over time, excessive stress can lead to pathological expansion of the ventricular cavities. This happens due to non-compliance with the training regimen.

"Beer Heart"

A separate group suffering from cardiomegaly includes people who regularly drink large quantities of beer. In such patients, there is an increase in the load on the heart, which has to pump a larger volume of blood than in normal conditions. The organ includes compensatory mechanisms, which causes an increase in the heart muscle and stretching of the cavities of the ventricles. The muscle begins to change its structure, becomes flabby and adipose tissue begins to appear in it. This in turn can lead to the development of heart failure.

Symptoms

Often, a pathology characterized as a large heart may not manifest itself for a long time. Most often, the disease is diagnosed by X-ray examination.

But sometimes an enlarged heart can manifest itself with the following characteristic signs:

• dyspnea;
• difficulty breathing at night;
• the appearance of edema;
• increased fatigue;
• chest pain;
• sweating;
• heart rhythm disturbance.

Before prescribing treatment, a diagnosis is carried out to identify the disease that caused cardiomegaly.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the disease, the following measures are taken:

• radiography;
• echocardiogram;
• CT scan;
• blood chemistry;
• caterization.

Palpation and auscultation are also performed to detect cardimegaly. As practice shows, it is very difficult to diagnose a large heart, since the disease has symptoms characteristic of other cardiovascular diseases.

Treatment

Therapy to eliminate big heart syndrome is primarily aimed at eliminating the root cause that caused the disease. In particular, medical and surgical treatment methods are used.

Drug therapy

An enlarged heart caused by hypertension or coronary artery disease is treated with medications to lower blood pressure. The attending physician prescribes the following medications:

• ACE inhibitors;
• beta blockers;
• diuretics.

ACE inhibitors can normalize blood pressure and improve cardiovascular activity. When taken over a long period of time, as prescribed by a doctor, they can return the heart to its normal, original state.

Beta blockers may be prescribed instead of inhibitors for hypertension. They help normalize blood pressure and heart rate.

When treating hypertension, it is also important to take diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body and reduce the amount of sodium. This helps reduce the density of the heart muscle.

The group of ACE inhibitors includes the following medications:

• Enapril;
• Monopril;
• Renitek;
• Diroton.

With coronary heart disease, cardiomegaly can occur without an increase in blood pressure. In this case, the doctor may also prescribe inhibitors and drugs aimed at strengthening the heart muscle. An integral part of drug treatment for ischemia is diet therapy.

Diet therapy

Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of pathologies that cause a large heart.

The patient's diet should include foods low in fat and high in fiber. This product category includes:

• vegetables;
• fruits;
• garlic;
• legumes;
• oatmeal;
• berries;
• low-fat fermented milk products.

Vegetables, fruits and berries are a source of potassium and magnesium, which have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and strengthen it. In addition, many of this category of products are rich in vitamin C, which also helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

Oatmeal is a source of selenium and helps normalize blood pressure. Therefore, it must also be included in the diet of heart patients.

A very important product for heart diseases is garlic, which can not only normalize blood pressure, but also strengthen the heart muscle. Heart patients are recommended to eat two cloves of garlic daily.

Protein foods include lean chicken, turkey, rabbit and fish. They are a source of fatty acids, which are essential for the functioning of not only the heart, but the entire body.

All food consumed must be steamed or boiled in water.

Patients with heart disease are strictly prohibited from eating fried, salty and fatty foods, as they lead to clogging of blood vessels and retain excess fluid in the body.

You should also avoid tonic drinks and sweets, as they increase blood pressure.

Surgical intervention

If a large heart has caused heart failure, you may need to install an implantable cardioverted defibrillator, which is a matchbox device. Due to electrical discharges, the device allows the heart to beat at a normal rhythm.
A pacemaker may also be used to control the contraction of the heart muscle.

Prevention

To prevent the development or recurrence of heart pathologies, it is necessary, first of all, to change your approach to nutrition.

All foods that contribute to the formation of cholesterol plaques on blood vessels, which are the main cause of cardiovascular diseases, should be removed from the daily diet.

You should eat as many vegetables, fruits and freshly squeezed juices as possible, which are a source of potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.

Moderate physical activity plays an important role in the prevention of heart disease and other heart diseases. Exercising will strengthen the heart muscle and reduce the risk of developing heart pathologies. Even in old age, light aerobic exercise is prescribed. You should begin to gradually train your heart to increase its endurance and strengthen muscle tissue. At the very least, you should regularly engage in swimming or long walks in the fresh air.

When diagnosed with a large heart, it is also very important to give up bad habits: smoking and alcohol. These highly toxic products greatly increase the load on the cardiovascular system and provoke the development of heart diseases.

Following these simple rules will soon help bring the condition of the heart and blood vessels back to normal.