How is enlarged heart diagnosed

Take your medications as prescribed : If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, be certain to take medications as directed. Enlarged Heart Prognosis The prognosis for people with an enlarged heart is good if medications are taken as prescribed and a heart-healthy lifestyle is adopted. Enlarged Heart Treatment and Recovery Enlarged heart treatment will depend on the heart condition causing it.

Medication Medications can help treat the symptoms, or the causes, of cardiomegaly in order to Lower blood pressure Prevent blood clots Reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke Increase the strength and efficiency of heart contractions Enlarged Heart Surgery Your physician may recommend a medical procedure or surgery that can include: Coronary artery bypass grafting CABG : This surgery improves blood flow, stops chest pain and prevents a heart attack by grafting arteries or veins taken from other parts of your body in order to bypass the narrowed coronary arteries.

Ventricular assist device VAD surgery: This device can be implanted to help a weak heart pump more efficiently. Heart valve surgery: Heart valve surgery may be done to repair a problem with a valve, or replace it with an artificial valve or a tissue valve from a cow, pig or human. After coronary artery bypass grafting, you will spend one to two days in an intensive care unit, and another three to five days in another unit before you can go home.

Full recovery may take weeks. Your physician will tell you when you may be physically active again, including going back to work or resuming sexual activity.

Recovery after ventricular assist device surgery depends upon your condition before surgery. You will spend one to two days in an intensive care unit, and another three to five days in another unit before you can go home. You will transition slowly from hospital to home, which may include being at home for the first day, but coming back to the hospital that evening. Your doctor will advise you on the level of activities you can participate in until you are fully recovered.

After heart valve surgery, you will spend one to two days in an intensive care unit, and another three to five days in another unit before you can go home. Your physician will tell you when you may be physically active again. After heart transplant surgery, you will spend several days in an intensive care unit, and several weeks in another unit before you can go home.

Once discharged, you must stay very close to the hospital for the first six weeks to maintain frequent follow-up visits and lab tests.

Follow-Up Care After Enlarged Heart Surgery Before leaving the hospital, your physician or nurse will discuss a follow-up plan that will probably include check-ups and tests.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Heart. Heart disease - enlarged heart. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. The risk of complications from an enlarged heart depends on the part of the heart that is enlarged and the cause.

Tell your doctor if you have a family history of conditions that can cause an enlarged heart, such as cardiomyopathy. If cardiomyopathy or other heart conditions are diagnosed early, treatments may prevent the disease from worsening. Controlling risk factors for coronary artery disease — tobacco use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes — helps to reduce your risk of an enlarged heart and heart failure by reducing your risk of a heart attack.

You can help reduce your chance of developing heart failure by eating a healthy diet and not abusing alcohol or using illicit drugs. Controlling high blood pressure with diet, exercise and possibly medications also prevents many people who have an enlarged heart from developing heart failure.

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Enlarged heart, in heart failure Open pop-up dialog box Close. Enlarged heart, in heart failure As the heart weakens, as it can with heart failure, it begins to enlarge, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood on to the rest of the body. Share on: Facebook Twitter.

There are 2 types of cardiomyopathy. Medical treatment may be necessary in some cases, and the causes of temporary cardiomegaly can include:. Some people are more at risk than others of developing mild cardiomegaly. Factors that can increase risk include:. Mild cardiomegaly is typically diagnosed through both a physical examination and additional tests. Recommended medications depend on the condition that is causing the enlarged heart.

Medication may be prescribed to treat abnormal heart rhythms and high blood pressure. Diuretics may be prescribed to lower pressure in the arteries, while anticoagulants can reduce the risk of blood clots. Other underlying conditions, such as anemia or thyroid disorders, can also be treated with medication.

If medications do not effectively treat mild cardiomegaly, or if symptoms become moderate or severe, it may be necessary for someone to be fitted with a medical device. A pacemaker may be fitted to regulate heartbeat in those with dilative cardiomyopathy. People with severe arrhythmias may require an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator ICD to deliver shocks to control the heart rhythm.

Surgery is usually reserved for more severe cases of cardiomegaly, or for those that do not respond to other treatments. Depending on several factors, the following surgeries may be recommended for people with cardiomegaly:.