Enlarged heart symptoms include fatigue, chest pains, and swelling. Abnormal heart rhythm, weakness, and edema are also common. High blood pressure can cause edema in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath and cardiac arrest. Treatment options include medication, surgery, and heart transplant.
The heart muscles thicken when the organ has to work harder than usual to pump blood efficiently around the body. While an enlarged heart doesn’t always pose a health risk, enlarged heart symptoms can be signs of a potentially serious condition. Fatigue, mild chest pains, and swelling in the extremities are possible symptoms of an enlarged heart that should be evaluated by a doctor. If a person suddenly feels dizzy or experiences sharp pains and shortness of breath, they should be taken to an emergency room as soon as possible.
Some of the more common enlarged heart symptoms include an abnormal heart rhythm, weakness, and swelling. When the heart has trouble pumping blood, it may start beating faster or at irregular intervals. Heart palpitations can often be felt by a person with an enlarged heart. Fatigue and weakness are common effects of a heart that works too hard. An individual may tire easily during physical activity or have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
Swelling in the legs, arms, or abdomen is a sign of edema or excess fluid buildup that is common in patients with an enlarged heart. High blood pressure strains blood vessels, causing them to rupture and leak. The fluid is dispersed into the body tissue, causing it to become inflamed, swell and expand. Edema is most likely to be seen in the feet or lower legs, although swelling may also be seen in the hands or felt in the torso.
If an enlarged heart causes very high blood pressure, edema in the lungs can occur. An individual may begin coughing or have very shallow breathing. Shortness of breath can become so severe that it causes dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. Fainting or tingling sensations are signs of cardiac arrest, which is an emergency condition.
A person who believes they may have enlarged heart symptoms should report them to a doctor right away. A doctor can do a series of imaging and blood tests to confirm an enlarged heart and look for signs of an underlying cause. Depending on the severity of the condition, a patient may need to take medications or undergo surgery to prevent complications. A patient with mild symptoms may be prescribed medications to lower blood pressure, relieve chest pains, and reduce edema symptoms.
Surgery is needed when cardiac arrest is likely. A patient may need to have heart valve surgery to improve blood flow or be fitted with a pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm and pumping activity. If all other treatments fail to relieve symptoms, an individual may be a candidate for a transplant with an artificial or donor heart.
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