Anyone been diagnosed with an enlarged heart please read.?!
Question: Anyone been diagnosed with an enlarged heart please read!.!?
Ok i have a couple questions!.
1-How long does the heart ultrasounds take!?
2-Did your doctor tell you you could die at any minute!?
3-Can it be fixed!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
1-How long does the heart ultrasounds take!?
2-Did your doctor tell you you could die at any minute!?
3-Can it be fixed!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The heart enlarges in two ways!.!.!.by thickening of the muscle wall, or by dilation of the chambers that blood passes through!. Dilation happens as each muscle fiber in the heart wall lengthens!. Like a stretched rubber band, the "stretched" muscle fiber can contract more forcefully to "pump" blood through, and out of, the heart!. The thicker wall happens when each muscle cell increases in size, also increasing the muscular force of heart contractions!. These changes are called dilation and hypertrophy, and happen when, for some reason, the pumping force of the heart is not adequate to meet the body demands for blood circulation!. The causes vary!. For example, obstructive lung disease that slows blood flow out of the heart and through the lungs will cause backup of blood within the right heart chambers, and they may enlarge to compensate for the increased resistance to blood flow to the lungs!. Another possible cause occurs when the muscle wall of the left ventricle is damaged by heart attack or disease!. The damaged muscle tissue may die and be replaced by non-functioning scar tissue!. The left heart will then enlarge to compensate for the weakened contractions caused by the area of scar tissue!. Some viruses may invade heart tissue and cause damage which also leads to enlargement of the heart!. Determining the cause of your heart enlargement will then determine your prognosis (probable outcome) and treatment options!. Many people with heart enlargement live long lives and never require heart transplant!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
This page tells you about the ultrasound and what to expect: http://www!.smart-heart-living!.com/echoca!.!.!.
As for your other questions, your doctor has ordered the echocardiogram in order to help diagnose your situation!.
There are several causes for enlarged heart, but that cannot be determined over the internet!. Good luck with your tests!. Other pages on the website above can give you some good information about heart disease and how to live successfully with it!.
Hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
As for your other questions, your doctor has ordered the echocardiogram in order to help diagnose your situation!.
There are several causes for enlarged heart, but that cannot be determined over the internet!. Good luck with your tests!. Other pages on the website above can give you some good information about heart disease and how to live successfully with it!.
Hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
In regards to a heart ultrasound (know as an echocardiogram or just echo) when I go in for mine once a year (though I have complex structural issues) it generally takes about and hour but that is with complex issues it may only take about half an hour for you!. For your other two questions I am sorry I do not know!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is myocardial dysfunction producing heart failure in which ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction predominate!. Symptoms include dyspnea, fatigue, and peripheral edema!. Diagnosis is clinical and by chest x-ray and echocardiography!. Treatment is directed at the cause; heart transplantation may be needed!. (Merck)
Dilated, or congestive, cardiomyopathy is more common and occurs due to enlarging and stretching of the heart cavity, weakening the heart so it does not pump normally!.
The heart muscle becomes weak and too flexible, preventing it pumping blood efficiently around the body!.
Breathlessness results as fluid builds up in the lungs, congesting them!. This is called left heart failure!.
There may also be right heart failure, where fluid accumulates in the tissues and organs of the body, usually the legs and ankles, and the liver and abdomen!.
The cause of the condition is unknown in many cases, but it can be caused by a virus, auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, excessive consumption of alcohol or, rarely, as a result of pregnancy - peri-partum cardiomyopathy!.
Shortness of breath, palpitations, tiredness, swollen ankles and angina are common symptoms!.
Blood clots often form because the blood is flowing more slowly through the heart!. (BBC News)Www@Answer-Health@Com
Dilated cardiomyopathy is myocardial dysfunction producing heart failure in which ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction predominate!. Symptoms include dyspnea, fatigue, and peripheral edema!. Diagnosis is clinical and by chest x-ray and echocardiography!. Treatment is directed at the cause; heart transplantation may be needed!. (Merck)
Dilated, or congestive, cardiomyopathy is more common and occurs due to enlarging and stretching of the heart cavity, weakening the heart so it does not pump normally!.
The heart muscle becomes weak and too flexible, preventing it pumping blood efficiently around the body!.
Breathlessness results as fluid builds up in the lungs, congesting them!. This is called left heart failure!.
There may also be right heart failure, where fluid accumulates in the tissues and organs of the body, usually the legs and ankles, and the liver and abdomen!.
The cause of the condition is unknown in many cases, but it can be caused by a virus, auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, excessive consumption of alcohol or, rarely, as a result of pregnancy - peri-partum cardiomyopathy!.
Shortness of breath, palpitations, tiredness, swollen ankles and angina are common symptoms!.
Blood clots often form because the blood is flowing more slowly through the heart!. (BBC News)Www@Answer-Health@Com