What Is an Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly)?
What Is an Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly)?
Heart valve disease. Surgery or a less invasive procedure can sometimes repair or replace a damaged heart valve that is causing cardiomegaly.
When an enlarged heart is causing congestive heart failure, other treatments focus on improving symptoms and maintaining heart function, such as:
Diuretics. "Water pills" increase urination. This eventually reduces the volume of blood the heart must pump. Diuretics also help reduce uncomfortable leg swelling.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers. These medications commonly treat high blood pressure but also independently improve heart health.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. A device implanted in the chest can electrically restart the heart if it stops beating. Some devices can also stimulate the heart to pump more effectively.
In very few people with cardiomegaly and severe congestive heart failure, heart transplant may be recommended.
In this article
- Types of Enlarged Heart
- Causes of an Enlarged Heart
- Symptoms of an Enlarged Heart
- Diagnosis of an Enlarged Heart
- Treatments for an Enlarged Heart
Treatments for an Enlarged Heart continued...
Heart valve disease. Surgery or a less invasive procedure can sometimes repair or replace a damaged heart valve that is causing cardiomegaly.
When an enlarged heart is causing congestive heart failure, other treatments focus on improving symptoms and maintaining heart function, such as:
Diuretics. "Water pills" increase urination. This eventually reduces the volume of blood the heart must pump. Diuretics also help reduce uncomfortable leg swelling.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers. These medications commonly treat high blood pressure but also independently improve heart health.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. A device implanted in the chest can electrically restart the heart if it stops beating. Some devices can also stimulate the heart to pump more effectively.
In very few people with cardiomegaly and severe congestive heart failure, heart transplant may be recommended.
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