Cardiomegaly is a condition when the heart is enlarged due to certain diseases. Cardiomegaly cantemporary, can also permanent.In some cases, this condition can occur without causing symptoms. However, there is also cardiomegaly which causes dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath.
Cardiomegaly is not a disease, but a symptom. Usually, this heart abnormality occurs due to a disease or condition that causes the heart to have to work harder to pump blood.
Cardiomegaly can be seen through imaging tests, such as X-rays. The discovery of cardiomegaly is generally not an emergency. However, it is important to find out the cause of the cardiomegaly, so that appropriate treatment can be given and complications can be prevented.
Reason and Factr Risk Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly occurs when the heart muscle pumps blood with more effort than normal. This excessive workload over time will cause thickening of the heart muscle, so that the size of the heart becomes larger.
Some conditions that can cause cardiomegaly are:
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart valve disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
- Pericardial effusion or fluid buildup in the lining of the heart
- Thyroid hormone disorders
- Anemia
- Excess iron in the body (hemochromatosis)
- Viral infection of the heart
- HIV infection
- Kidney disease, such as kidney stones
- Lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Amyloidosis disease
- Congenital heart disease, such as atrial fibrillation, coarctation of the aorta, or Ebstein's anomaly
- Pregnancy
In addition to the conditions above, the risk of cardiomegaly is also higher in someone with the following factors:
- Being overweight or obese
- Have a passive or sedentary lifestyle
- Addiction to alcohol or drugs
- Have you ever had a heart attack?
- Have a family history of heart swelling
Symptoms of Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly is not always symptomatic. However, in some patients, this condition begins with mild symptoms, such as heart palpitations and shortness of breath during moderate activity, which persist for years.
Usually, new cardiomegaly shows more pronounced symptoms when the heart's ability to pump blood has greatly decreased. Symptoms of cardiomegaly can include:
- Shortness of breath, especially when doing strenuous activities
- Heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias)
- Body feels tired
- Swelling (edema) in the legs or all over the body
- Weight gain due to fluid buildup
- Dizzy
When to go to the doctor
The sooner it is detected and treated, the more likely it is that cardiomegaly can be cured. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor if you experience the symptoms mentioned above, especially if you are at risk of suffering from this condition.
Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of a heart attack appear, such as:
- Discomfort in the upper body, such as back, stomach, arms, neck, and jaw
- Chest pain
- Severe shortness of breath
- Faint
Cardiomegaly Diagnosis
The diagnosis of cardiomegaly begins by asking about the symptoms experienced and the patient's medical history. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination, especially on the heart, by palpating and tapping the chest wall area, and listening to heart sounds through a stethoscope.
After that, additional cardiac examinations need to be done to determine the condition of the enlarged heart and its cause. Additional checks that can be done include:
- Chest X-ray, to see an overview of the size of the heart and lungs
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), to see the electrical activity of the heart to check the heart rhythm and the condition of the heart muscle
- Echocardiography or ultrasound of the heart, to determine the thickness of the muscles, the size of the heart chambers, the work of the heart valves, and the ability of the heart to pump
- CT scan or MRI, to show a more detailed picture of the heart
- stress test (exercise test), to monitor the ability of the heart to work while the patient is doing physical activities, such as walking on treadmill or ride a stationary bike
- Blood tests, to determine the levels of certain substances in the blood that are affected by the disease or condition that causes cardiomegaly
- Cardiac catheterization, to check the pressure in the heart chambers or look for coronary heart disease
- Heart biopsy, to take a sample of heart muscle tissue
Cardiomegaly Treatment
Treatment of cardiomegaly focuses on treating the cause of the enlarged heart. Treatment options that can be done include medication or surgery, depending on the cause and severity.
To treat cardiomegaly caused by high blood pressure or heart failure, a cardiologist may prescribe medication ACE inhibitors, such as captopril, or beta-blocking drugs (beta blockers), such as bisoprolol. These drugs work to lower blood pressure and improve the pumping function of the heart.
If the patient cannot take ACE inhibitor, doctors can replace it with an ARB drug, such as candesartan. In addition, diuretic drugs can also be given to reduce sodium and water levels in the body so that blood pressure decreases and swelling is reduced.
To treat the causes of cardiomegaly related to heart rhythm, doctors may prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs, such as digoxin. If the patient is at risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack, the doctor may also prescribe blood thinning drugs.
When the administration of drugs is not effective enough to treat the cause of cardiomegaly, treatment may be done with surgery. Some of the operations that can be done to treat cardiomegaly are:
- Insertion of a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), to monitor and control heart rhythm
- Operation bypass heart, to overcome blockage of heart blood vessels in cardiomegaly caused by coronary heart disease
- Heart valve surgery, to replace the faulty valve
- A heart transplant or transplant, as a last resort if other medical procedures cannot treat cardiomegaly
The chances of successful cardiomegaly treatment will be greater if it is supported by lifestyle changes to become healthier, such as:
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress well
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Limit salt consumption
- Get enough sleep, about 8 hours a day
- Quit smoking
- Stop or limit the consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages
- Maintain blood sugar levels and blood pressure
Cardiomegaly that occurs temporarily, for example due to pregnancy or infection, usually resolves completely and the heart returns to its normal size. However, if the cardiomegaly is caused by a chronic disease, the condition is usually permanent and requires continued treatment.
Complications of Cardiomegaly
If not treated properly, cardiomegaly can lead to the following complications:
- Heart valve disorders
- Formation of blood clots in the heart that can block blood flow to vital organs
- Heart failure
- Sudden cardiac arrest
Cardiomegaly Prevention
Cardiomegaly can be avoided by taking precautions against the disease and risk factors that can cause this condition. This can be done by living a healthy lifestyle to maintain heart health, such as:
- Eat foods that are good for people with swollen heart, such as fruit, vegetables, fish, low-fat milk, and whole grains
- Limit consumption of salt and saturated fat
- Avoid alcoholic drinks
- Stop smoking habit
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain cholesterol levels and blood pressure