The heart muscle is responsible for providing the body with the blood and oxygen it needs to sustain life. Like any muscle in the body, it needs to be exercised and taken care of in order for a person to stay healthy. Being overweight, sedentary, eating an unhealthy diet, smoking and various diseases can cause problems with the heart muscle which interfere with its ability to function properly. This includes conditions which cause the heart muscle to enlarge. There are times when this is a healthy change and times when it is a sign of disease.
Identification
The heart has two upper chambers or atria and two lower chambers called the ventricles. It also has a built in pacemaker, the SA node, that tells it how fast to beat. Upon receiving the electrical signals from the SA node, the heart muscle contracts to push the blood out into the body and then it relaxes in-between each contraction. In general, a healthy heart is about the size and shape of a man's fist and weighs between 7 to 15 oz., according to the Texas Heart Institute. There are diseases and other situations, however, that can cause the heart muscle to become larger than normal. This condition, called cardiomegaly, sometimes can hinder the heart's ability to pump correctly.
Causes
Sometimes the heart muscle can enlarge for no known reason and other times it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, states MayoClinic.com. It can also be the result of a congenital condition. Diseases that affect the heart muscle, its valves or the blood vessels can cause the heart muscle to work harder than normal, which may make it become weaker and larger. This includes high blood pressure, heart failure, abnormalities of the heart's valves, anemia, thyroid disorders and others. As the heart must work harder to pump blood it can thicken, stiffen and grow in size. This can occur in just one or in multiple chambers of the heart.
Symptoms
If the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to deliver the blood and oxygen the body needs certain symptoms may appear. This includes trouble breathing, coughing, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, edema or swelling in the neck, legs or abdomen and an irregular pulse. MayoClinic.com recommends speaking with a physician as soon as any symptoms appear because an enlarged heart is easier to treat if caught in the early stages. These symptoms may initially just be present upon exertion, but without treatment they can occur at rest and be present all the time. Chest pain or tightness, severe shortness of breath and fainting or black out spells require immediate medical attention as they may be warning signs of a heart attack.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The "Journal of the American Medical Association" states that diagnosing an enlarged heart requires a complete medical exam which reviews the history of symptoms. A chest X-ray can then be ordered to show the structure of the heart and determine if any portion of it has become enlarged. Since an enlarged heart is considered a symptom and not a disease, additional tests will need to be run to determine the underlying cause. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication or surgery to put in a pacemaker or repair a valve. In severe cases a heart transplant may be required.
Considerations
The heart, like any muscle in the body, may adapt to appropriate levels of exercise by growing stronger and larger. In some cases, this is a normal response to exercise and not a cause for concern. The heart grows larger so it can meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen during intense training. In other cases, it may signal an underlying condition warns the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. An enlarged heart may be from an inherited disorder called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a major cause of sudden death in young athletes. This condition can exist for years without ever producing symptoms. There are tests, however, that can be done to help confirm a diagnosis. If this condition runs in the family, these tests can be ordered and treatment can be started to prevent complications.
