The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body, acting as the centre of the circulatory system and responsible for pumping blood to meet the needs of all body organs. If the heart cannot function properly, the body's organs will be starved of blood, leading to oxygen deprivation in cells and making it difficult to maintain daily functions, potentially even leading to death. There have been cases of heart failure and death due to an enlarged heart; so why does an enlarged heart occur? What are the risks associated with an enlarged heart? And how can we prevent ourselves and our families from developing symptoms of an enlarged heart? This article explains in an easy-to-understand way, allowing you to delve into the details!
心臟肥大是指心臟肌肉變厚或變大，導致心臟難以將血液輸送到全身。
The heart pumps blood to different parts of the body through the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle. What is cardiomegaly? Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart detected through a chest X-ray. Heart enlargement is not necessarily limited to thickening of the heart muscle; in some cases of cardiomegaly,，The heart muscle is normal or instead thinned and weak.
Partial diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is an enlargement of the main chamber responsible for pumping blood (the left ventricle), but the heart muscle is normal or even thinner and has become weaker.
4 potential risks of an enlarged heart
Cardiomegaly is highly likely to cause some diseases, such as：
- Heart failure
- Cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death
- Blood clot
- Heart murmur
Especially after strenuous exercise, the sudden increase in cardiac load due to an enlarged heart can more easily trigger the aforementioned complications, leading to death. How can you detect if you might have an enlarged heart? We should observe if you have the following symptoms.
- Sudden shortness of breath, chest tightness ，Severe breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
- Angina or chest pain
- Palpitations (or the sensation of the heart briefly stopping for 1-2 seconds)
- Unexplained dizziness, fainting or brief loss of consciousness
If anyone shows any of these symptoms, even if they are very brief, it is recommended to seek medical help immediately..
11 causes of an enlarged heart
Numerous risk factors can lead to an enlarged heart. We will break them down and understand them one by one, before discussing preventive measures..
1. High blood pressure
Above 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressureUnder prolonged high blood pressure, the heart must work harder to pump blood throughout the body, potentially leading to left ventricular hypertrophy, which is a thickening of the heart muscle.，This then leads to an enlarged heart. Additionally, high blood pressure can cause enlargement of the atria, the upper chambers of the heart.
2. Hereditary
If your parents or siblings have cardiomegaly, your chances of developing cardiomegaly are increased, so take extra notice during your regular physical examinations..
3. Coronary artery stenosis
Coronary heart disease Heart disease (also known as ischaemic heart disease) is similar to high blood pressure. In these patients, the blood vessels in the heart become narrowed, forcing the heart to pump blood with more effort. This can lead to the heart becoming enlarged over time, eventually causing heart failure.
4. Valvular heart disease
The heart has an important valve that prevents blood from flowing backwards, called a heart valve. If the valve is damaged due to congenital heart defects, heart infections, connective tissue diseases, or rheumatic fever, blood flowing backwards can lead to heart enlargement.
If you have valvular heart disease, pay attention to blood clots accumulating from regurgitating blood, as dislodged clots can increase the risk of stroke..
5. Cardiomyopathy or myocardial damage
The contraction and relaxation of the myocardium are crucial for pumping blood around the body. Myocardial disease can lead to ventricular dilation, myocardial hypertrophy, or myocardial fibrosis, all of which can impair blood pumping..
If you have myocarditis or a heart attack, the heart muscle is also damaged and scars, causing myocardial ischaemia, arrhythmias, and ultimately potentially leading to an enlarged heart.
6. Pericardial effusion
The pericardium is a sac-like tissue surrounding the heart, containing pericardial fluid made of lymph, which acts as a buffer. When pericardial effusion occurs, chest X-rays can reveal an enlarged heart..
7. Thyroid disease
Thyroid diseases, whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, can lead to an enlarged heart and other heart problems, so you should pay more attention to them..
8. Chronic anaemia
In cases of chronic anaemia or a low red blood cell count, the patient has a shortage of healthy red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen to the body's tissues. If left untreated, this can easily lead to the heart having to increase its blood supply to compensate for the lack of oxygen during anaemia, potentially causing heart enlargement. Chronic anaemia can also lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
9. Haemochromatosis
Also known as haemochromatosis, the patient's body cannot metabolise iron properly, leading to iron accumulation in various organs, such as the heart..
Excessive iron in the body, especially when deposited in the heart, leads to a series of consequences such as diastolic dysfunction and arrhythmias.
10. Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which the patient's proteins have two types of abnormal proteins that accumulate in different organs after flowing through the bloodstream. If these deposits occur in the heart, it can affect its function, such as restrictive cardiomyopathy.
11. Physiological cardiac hypertrophy
Continuous muscle training makes muscles grow larger, and the same applies to the heart. Therefore, in some professions, such as athletes, long-term high-intensity sports training or competition causes the heart to adapt to the situation and grow larger to meet the body's needs.
3 ways to prevent heart enlargement
The aforementioned risk of cardiomegaly is a cause of heart failure, sudden death, and other conditions. Early prevention is key.，The following3 of the most effective tricks!
1. Understand family medical history
If there's a history of the following diseases in your family, you should be mindful in your daily life and seek early detection and treatment..
- High blood pressure
- Enlarged heart
- Any type of heart disease
2. Healthy lifestyle habits
In everyday life, trying to avoid smoking and alcohol, and cultivating healthy eating habits, will help you maintain a reasonable weight and a healthy physique. It is also recommended to get enough sleep and avoid habits such as staying up all night..If regular exercise, such as scheduled walks and swimming, can be maintained, it can also promote physical health..
3. Regular health check-ups
A physical examination is the best way to help us detect warning signs in your body. If you experience unexplained shortness of breath or chest tightness on a regular basis, 、In cases of chest pain, you might consider having a heart check-up at the Hong Kong International Heart Centre..
Hong Kong International Cardiology CentreWith a senior cardiology team and professional equipment, offering 3 different types of cardiac examinations:
- Basic heart health checkSuitable for an annual health check-up, providing basic cardiac health information, and also including a physical examination, basic blood or lipid profile, and diabetes testing..
- Standard Heart Health Check-upA more in-depth cardiac examination, including an exercise electrocardiogram or echocardiogram (choose one).）。The package includes a physical examination, blood or lipid tests, and a diabetes test..
- Comprehensive cardiac health check-upThe most comprehensive heart check-up package, including ECG, stress ECG, and cardiac ultrasound. It also includes a physical examination, blood or lipid tests, diabetes screening, inflammatory markers, kidney function tests, liver function tests, and more..
Book an appointment at the Hong Kong International Cardiac Centre today and safeguard your family's heart health..
Disclaimer: This content is independently written by a third party for informational purposes only, is not sponsored, and cannot replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not represent any stance. If you experience any physical discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.
