Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, can develop for a number of reasons, or according to MayoClinic.com, for no reason at all. Because an enlarged heart is a symptom rather than a condition, treatment first requires that you find, if possible, the underlying cause. Whether you can exercise with an enlarged heart depends on the category and degree of enlargement.
Getting Started
Talk to your doctor or cardiologist before getting started with any type of exercise. He can determine whether exercise is appropriate for your condition, as well as help you select the correct types of exercise. After getting started, if you experience symptoms, such as dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pain, stop exercising and report these symptoms to your doctor immediately.
Types of Enlargement
The Cardiomyopathy Association, or CMA, identifies three basic categories of enlarged hearts, each with differing effects. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy refers to heart enlargement due to the arrangement of cells within your heart muscle. Cell orientation causes a thickening of the heart muscle but usually produces few, if any, symptoms. The second type, dilated cardiomyopathy, refers to enlargement due to stretching of your left ventricle. Over time, dilated cardiomyopathy weakens your heart muscle and can lead heart failure. The third type, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, is a serious condition that causes heart muscle cells to die and fat and scar tissue to replace these cells. This progressive condition can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death.
Acceptable Exercise Types
Unless you have arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, noncompetitive aerobic exercise is the general recommendation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Georgia State University Department of Kinesiology defines aerobic exercise as rhythmic exercise that continuously uses large muscle groups. Its purpose is to make your heart and lungs work harder than they do at rest. Aerobic exercise can include activities, such as biking, cross-country skiing, rollerblading, swimming and walking.
Precautions
Take precautions not to overdo when performing aerobic exercises. The Cleveland Clinic recommends starting out slow to give your body time to build strength and endurance, exercising at a time during the day when you feel the most energetic and taking frequent rest breaks so you do not become overly fatigued.
Exercise Contraindications
Intense physical activity can in some cases lead to sudden cardiac death. Because of this, the Cleveland Clinic discourages participating in heavy weight lifting if you suffer from any form of cardiomyopathy. In addition, if you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you should also not participate in organized, competitive sporting events. If you have arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, general exercise recommendations and contraindications do not apply. The CMA states that only your cardiologist can determine whether exercise is right for you.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Enlarged Heart
- British Heart Foundation: Inherited Heart Conditions: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- British Heart Foundation: Inherited Heart Conditions: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- British Heart Foundation: Inherited Heart Conditions: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Cleveland Clinic: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Georgia State University: Aerobic Exercise Main Page
