Question 1

what causes an enlarged heart? what causes an enlarged heart, and why are people with enlarged heart more at risk with their health?

Accepted Answer

There : There are many causes of an enlarged heart, and the heart can enlarge in different ways. In some conditions, the heart chambers dilate and the heart muscle weakens. This dilation most often occurs as a consequence of prior heart attacks, which is called ischemic cardiomyopathy. It can also be caused by toxins such as excessive alcohol, genetic abnormalities, metabolic derangements such as thyroid disease or sometimes occurs with no apparent cause (idiopathic cardiomyopathy). In some other conditions, the heart muscle thickens excessively as opposed to dilating, and this also leads to an enlarged heart. The most common cause of a thick heart is untreated hypertension, but it can also be caused by a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or can also occur when substances infiltrate and replace heart muscle. 
People with an enlarged heart are at increased risk for a few different reasons. If the heart muscle weakens, they can develop congestive heart failure which causes many symptoms and increases the risk of death. People with an enlarged heart are also at increased risk for arrhythmias, which in certain circumstances can cause cardiac arrest.

Question 2

if you have an enlarged heart will it shrink back to a normal size if you change your lifestyle to a healthy one, including back to normal weight?

Accepted Answer

Yes: An enlarge heart is a condition that could be treated with medications and life style changes. 

Please find the helpful article from mayo clinic. 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/enlarged-heart/ds01129.

Question 3

my father has an enlarged heart at age 69. what are the dos and don'ts he should follow to stay healthy?

Accepted Answer

Enlarged heart: Enlarged heart is a nonspecific statement. Specific do's and don'ts require knowing what's the problem if any. In general Mediterranean diet and weight control, not smoking, mild aerobic exercise and general good health steps following doctors advice are good for most folks.

Question 4

i suffer from heart failure enlarged heart and irregular heartbeat can i retire due to health?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: You can retire any time you want to retire, but if you want to claim disability, you have to be objectively disabled. Are you?

Question 5

36m who is a track athlete and extremely healthy and fit.  recent ekg showed that i have athlete's heart.  is this the same as an enlarged heart?

Accepted Answer

Normal: Athlete's heart is the denomination of an enlarged heart of people who perform physical activity regularly. Not to be confused with the enlarged heart of people with medical conditions such as htn, alcoholism, heart attacks, etc.

Question 6

my husband has just been diagnosed with an enlarged heart he is very frightened that this is a death sentence can you live a long life if treated?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely: Enlargement of the heart can occur from a wide variety of causes.  Most can be treated with current medications and interventions.

Make sure you or your husband discuss this concern with your husband's cardiologist - i'm sure they will address these concerns and formulate a treatment plan to improve the health and longevity of your husband.

Question 7

is an enlarged heart dangerous? could someone live a normal life?

Accepted Answer

CHF: The cause of the enlarged heart is what dictates the outcome from such a situation. If you have a very weak heart with congestive heart failure and both sides of the heart malfunctioning to cause this, that is very serious. If you have some more benign situation which is also possible could be less serious. You need to discuss with your doctor.

Question 8

enlarged heart on cxr. will it affect life expectancy?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Sometimes enlarged heart is called on cxr , but cardiac evaluation reveal no structural abnormalities. If that is case, life expectancy should not be affected. But if there is structural heart diseaein form of thickened heart muscle, weakened heart muscle, valvular, congenital, or coronary vascular disease, then life expectancy would be affected.

Question 9

if you we're born with an enlarged heart  an it's grown bigger over time how much life expectancy do you have to live?

Accepted Answer

Cardiomegaly: This can't be answered without more information. Enlarged heart doesn't inform the cause of the enlargement. It is the reason the heart is enlarged and the specifics of the pathology of that enlargement which suggest the natural history of the problem.

Question 10

enlarged heart, high bp. whats my life expectancy?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Your high BP may have caused the enlarged heart condition called hypertrophy.  If you can control your blood pressure especially with an anti-hypertenisve agent called an ace inhibitor, then you life expectancy can be good.  However if you persist with an elevated bp, then your life expectancy will decrease as you will increase your risk for a herat attack, stroke or severe cardiac disease.

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Can I live a healthy life with slightly enlarged heart

A member asked:

What causes an enlarged heart? what causes an enlarged heart, and why are people with enlarged heart more at risk with their health?

A member asked:

If you have an enlarged heart will it shrink back to a normal size if you change your lifestyle to a healthy one, including back to normal weight?

A member asked:

My father has an enlarged heart at age 69. what are the dos and don'ts he should follow to stay healthy?

A member asked:

I suffer from heart failure enlarged heart and irregular heartbeat can i retire due to health?

A member asked:

36m who is a track athlete and extremely healthy and fit. recent ekg showed that i have athlete's heart. is this the same as an enlarged heart?

A member asked:

My husband has just been diagnosed with an enlarged heart he is very frightened that this is a death sentence can you live a long life if treated?

A member asked:

Is an enlarged heart dangerous? could someone live a normal life?

A member asked:

Enlarged heart on cxr. will it affect life expectancy?

A member asked:

If you we're born with an enlarged heart an it's grown bigger over time how much life expectancy do you have to live?

A member asked:

Enlarged heart, high bp. whats my life expectancy?

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