Tag Archives: dilation

Abnormal enlargement of the heart Part 2

Leave a reply

What are the symptoms of cardiac enlargement?

Some people can have varying degrees of cardiac enlargement and have no symptoms. Once dilation or hypertrophy begins to place undue demands on heart function, however, symptoms do result. These can include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pressure or pain
  • Palpitations (a sense that the heart is beating rapidly or forcefully or “skipping beats”)
  • Swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Loss of consciousness Continue reading →

Abnormal enlargement of the heart Part 1

Leave a reply

Cardiac enlargemrs to an increase in the size of the heart. There are two types of cardiac enlargement: hypertrophy and dilation. (Though usually occurring separately, they may occur at the same time.) Hypertrophy involves an increase in the thickness of the heart muscle. Dilation involves an increase in the size of the inside cavity of a chamber of the heart. Hypertrophy usually occurs in only one chamber while dilation may occur in one, two, three, or all of the chambers, based on its cause. In most cases, cardiac enlargement is abnormal and accompanied by additional cardiovascular problems. The one exception is regular aerobic exercise, which produces a beneficial enlargement involving both hypertrophy and dilation of the heart. Continue reading →