An enlarged heart, medically known as cardiomyopathy, is a condition in which the muscles in the heart gradually weaken. The Mayo Clinic says that cardiomyopathy symptoms include leg swelling, trouble breathing with exertion, fatigue and dizziness. Fainting and lightheadedness are other symptoms of cardiomyopathy. Left untreated, complications from an enlarged heart can occur.
Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy refers to a condition in which the heart's muscle becomes stiff or thickened and it can no longer pump effectively. This can lead to heart failure. The Cleveland Clinic says that 550,000 new cases of heart failure occur annually.
It says that heart failure symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath when resting or lying in bed, an irregular or rapid heartbeat and a cough. Heart failure can also lead to such symptoms as fatigue, weakness, chest pain and a pounding heartbeat.
Treating heart failure involves keeping the blood pressure at normal level, exercising daily and avoiding alcohol. Other symptoms of heart failure include normalizing cholesterol and controlling diabetes. Taking medications such as diuretics, digoxin, anticoagulants, beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors can be helpful in managing heart failure as well. Sometimes, a pacemaker or surgery is needed to manage heart failure.
Heart Murmurs
A heart murmur refers to an abnormal heart sound that occurs when the heart is beating. The heart can appear to have a whooshing or swishing sound to it. Sometimes, heart murmurs can appear at birth or they may develop as a result of an underlying medical problem.
Symptoms of a heart murmur include shortness of breath, blue skin around the fingernails and hips, swelling, a large liver and chest pain. Other symptoms of a heart murmur include dizziness, fainting, heavy sweating, a poor appetite and weight gain.
Harmless murmurs, also known as innocent murmurs, can occur as a result of exercise, fever, anemia and an overactive thyroid gland. Sometimes, a hole in the heart or problems with the heart's valves can lead to a heart murmur.
Medications such as digoxin, anticoagulants, diuretics and cholesterol-lowering medication can be used to manage heart murmurs. Sometimes, surgery can be used to close a hole in the heart or repair or replace malfunctioning valves.
Cardiac Arrest
An enlarged heart can also lead to a cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association says that a cardiac arrest refers to a condition in which the heart suddenly loses function. Signs of a cardiac arrest include loss of consciousness, low blood pressure and a slow pulse.
Coronary artery disease, a condition in which the heart's vessels become blocked, are just some of the causes of cardiac arrest. Sometimes, an irregular heart rhythm that can result from an enlarged heart can also lead to cardiac arrest.
An electric shock, medically known as defibrillation, is administered to reverse cardiac arrest.
