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Symptoms. In some people, an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) causes no signs or symptoms. Others may have these signs and symptoms of cardiomegaly: Shortness of breath, especially while lying flat. Waking up short of breath. Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) Swelling (edema) in the belly or in the legs.
If cardiomyopathy or another type of heart condition is the cause of an enlarged heart, a health care provider may recommend medications, including: Diuretics. These drugs reduce the amount of sodium and water in the body, which can help lower blood pressure. Other blood pressure drugs. Beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE ...
Overview. Cardiomyopathy (kahr-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee) is a disease of the heart muscle. It causes the heart to have a harder time pumping blood to the rest of the body, which can lead to symptoms of heart failure. Cardiomyopathy also can lead to some other serious heart conditions. There are various types of cardiomyopathy.
Causes. Anything that puts stress on the heart's lower left chamber can cause left ventricular hypertrophy. The lower left chamber is called the left ventricle. As the strain on the lower left chamber increases, the muscle tissue in the chamber wall thickens. Sometimes, the size of the heart chamber itself also increases.
Symptoms. Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can include one or more of the following: Chest pain, especially during exercise. Fainting, especially during or just after exercise or other physical activity. Sensation of fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeats called palpitations. Shortness of breath, especially during exercise.
Some people are born with heart valve disease. This is called congenital heart valve disease. But adults can get heart valve disease too. Causes of heart valve disease in adults may include infections, age-related changes and other heart conditions. Risk factors. Several things can increase the risk of heart valve disease, including: Older age.
An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The medical term is hepatomegaly (hep-uh-toe-MEG-uh-le). Rather than a disease, an enlarged liver is a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer. Treatment involves identifying and controlling the cause of the condition.
Causes. Aortic aneurysms can develop anywhere in the body's main artery, called the aorta. The aorta runs from the heart through the chest and belly area. When an aneurysm occurs in the chest, it's called a thoracic aortic aneurysm. If an aneurysm forms between the upper and lower parts of the aorta, it's called a thoracoabdominal aneurysm.
Rapid or irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias. Shortness of breath, at rest or during activity. Lightheadedness or feeling like you might faint. Flu-like symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, fever or sore throat. Sometimes, myocarditis symptoms are like symptoms of a heart attack.
Signs and symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy may include: Fatigue. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) during activity or while lying down. Reduced ability to exercise. Swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, feet or belly (abdomen) Chest pain or discomfort. Fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)