Is an enlarged heart anything to worry about?!
Question: my husband had a chest xray yesterday which showed an enlarged heart but lungs were clear.He has high blood pressure at times but a recent ecg proved normal.He is getting palpitations and has a rapid heart rate at times also.Is this anything to be concerned about or will the consultant dismiss it as normal?.Recent blood tests were normal but have been repeated will more in depth tests included.
Answers: my husband had a chest xray yesterday which showed an enlarged heart but lungs were clear.He has high blood pressure at times but a recent ecg proved normal.He is getting palpitations and has a rapid heart rate at times also.Is this anything to be concerned about or will the consultant dismiss it as normal?.Recent blood tests were normal but have been repeated will more in depth tests included.
Cardiac hypertrophy (enlarged heart) is often a finding to high blood pressure: the heart has to pump harder against the high pressures found in the arteries, and so it enlarges to cope with the extra demand, in exactly the same way as the size of a weightlifter's muscles increase due to the stress of training. The fact that his lungs are clear, and he had a normal ECG tracing is a good sign. However, the enlargement of the heart together with palpitations and tachycardia (rapid heart rate) will mean the consultant will probably conduct further tests (possibly including a echocardiogram, if your husband's not already had one).
Try not to worry: there's plenty of things in your husband's favour.
hope this site helps
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.j...
'Normal' is not how one would describe an enlarged heart, but if he is under the care of a cardiac consultant, he is in good hands. He and you should ask the doctor what he can and cannot do, and what are the risks if he undertook certain activities.
It is something to be very concerned about. It can lead to heart failure. He's luck that they are looking at it early. CHF is fatal
I have heart failure. Explore the attached link. I expect they will put him on some of the meds called out.