Question 1

what is cardiomegaly?

Accepted Answer

Big heart: Cardiomegaly refers to a condition by which the heart muscle enlarges/ thickens. There are several causes.

Question 2

is cardiomegaly reversible?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: This needs to be confirmed- sometimes the heart just appears large on chest xray, and radiologist calls "cardiomegaly"  need definitive chamber size assessment with echocardiogram (most commonly) or with a cardiac ct or cardiac MRI (not commonly first line tests).
 Depending on the cause of the heart enlargement, there may be treatments which can improve heart function/reduce chamber enlargement.

Question 3

what is the cause of cardiomegaly?

Accepted Answer

Many: Many causes :virus or alcohol or obesity or hypertension or clogged coronary arteries to name a few.

Question 4

why might be signs of cardiomegaly?

Accepted Answer

None per se: Cardiomegaly simply means heart enlargement, which is a physiologic compensatory mechanism. By itself, it may have no symptoms.  It's the cause of the cardiomegaly that needs to be defined, and then the appropriate treatment options become evident. Talk to your doctor.

Question 5

can having cardiomegaly and bbb be dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Tough combination to have. Increased risk for sudden death from arrythmia and heart failure.

Question 6

if someone has cardiomegaly then will he survive?

Accepted Answer

Yes: But life expectancy is variable depending on severity & treatment.

Question 7

what does "cardiomegaly in transverse diameter" mean?

Accepted Answer

Cardiomegaly: Usually this means that measuring the width of the heart in an anteroposterior projection(facing the camera)chest xray the width measurement is a bit increased. This can mean something is wrong or it can be an artifact caused by improper distance from the detector.

Question 8

what is the definition or description of: cardiomegaly?

Accepted Answer

Large heart: This one's simple.  Cardiomegaly is simply an enlarged heart.  Many things can cause it and a more specific description would involve knowing a lot more about a patient's specific situation.

Question 9

cardiomegaly is a condition making it dangerous to exercise?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Cardiomegaly or enlarged heart is a result of some underlying condition.  It may affect how the heart functions therefore anything that increases the work of the heart, i.e. Exercise, can influence the ability of the heart to function properly. Always, always check with your doctor about your individual situation with this condition.

Question 10

what is life expectancy for someone with cardiomegaly?

Accepted Answer

Highly variable: 30 years ago, life expectancy was severely shortened for people with cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) but with modern treatments, it's much improved. Beyond that vague answer, we would need more details to be more specific.

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Doctor answers about:

Cardiomegaly

A member asked:

What is cardiomegaly?

A member asked:

Is cardiomegaly reversible?

A member asked:

What is the cause of cardiomegaly?

A member asked:

Why might be signs of cardiomegaly?

A member asked:

Can having cardiomegaly and bbb be dangerous?

A member asked:

If someone has cardiomegaly then will he survive?

A member asked:

What does "cardiomegaly in transverse diameter" mean?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: cardiomegaly?

A member asked:

Cardiomegaly is a condition making it dangerous to exercise?

A member asked:

What is life expectancy for someone with cardiomegaly?

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