Symptoms of cardiomegaly, treatment and prevention
Cardiomegaly is a condition in which the heart is enlarged and its chambers are dilated. During the progression of the disease, the heart will not be able to pump blood through the vessels in the usual mode. As a result, the supply of organs and tissues with blood, and therefore with oxygen and nutrients, suffers.
Causes of the disease
Why cardiomegaly occurs, what kind of disease it is, what are its manifestations are among the most frequent questions of patients at a doctor's appointment.
More often, pathology manifests itself not as an independent heart disease, but as a consequence of some other conditions or pathologies. An enlarged heart is considered normal in athletes. The results of the diagnosis of cardiomegaly in this case will not correspond to the subjective state of the patients - the heart adapts to the fact that it needs to pump a larger volume of blood than in people during standard physical exertion - because of this, the fibers of the myocardium (heart muscle) are stretched, the chambers of the heart expand, the organ works more efficiently.
Pathological cardiomegaly can be congenital or acquired.
Cardiomegaly in the fetus develops less often than in the postnatal (after birth) period due to a number of diseases.
In the case of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, due to which the load on the myocardium increases, it stretches according to the same principle as in physiological cardiomegaly, but the heart becomes weak and exhausted.
The following diseases and pathological factors can lead to cardiomegaly:
- hypertensive disease;
- renal disorders;
- ischemic heart disease;
- viral and bacterial impression of the myocardium;
- alcohol abuse, drug use;
- congenital pathologies of the heart and large vessels - in particular, heart defects.
In addition to the causes, the patient is interested in the symptoms of cardiomegaly, the treatment of this pathology, and its prevention.
Symptoms of cardiomegaly
With cardiomegaly, the following are observed:
- pains;
- shortness of breath;
- peripheral edema.
The severity of the signs of cardiomegaly depends on the degree of enlargement of the heart.
Characteristics of pain:
- by localization - in the area of the heart;
- characteristically – aching, astringent;
- by intensity - it depends on the degree of progression of the disease, pain can be both moderate and severe.
The clinical picture is not specific - the symptoms of cardiomegaly can be similar to the symptoms of other heart diseases. Therefore, the patient's complaints are not decisive in the diagnosis of this pathology - additional research methods are needed.
Diagnosis of cardiomegaly
The following methods are used in the diagnosis of cardiomegaly:
- percussion (tapping) of the heart - its boundaries will be expanded;
- auscultation of the heart (listening with a stethoscope) - heart sounds are weakened;
- electrocardiography;
- X-ray. Cardiomegaly on an X-ray is manifested by an enlargement of the heart and a change in its shape - the shadow of the heart becomes more rounded;
- computed tomography;
- gas composition of blood.
It is important to detect not only this pathology, but also the disease, symptom complex or syndrome against which cardiomegaly most often occurs.
Treatment
There are many methods of combating this pathology - from medication to surgery. Is it difficult to buy cardiomegaly? Treatment depends on the provocateur pathology. Often, the prescriptions for various causes of cardiomegaly are similar:
- anticoagulants - prevent blood clot formation;
- beta-blockers - improve the pumping function of the heart;
- diuretic - eliminate swellings that occur due to insufficient blood circulation;
- ACE - improves heart function.
Cardiomegaly in children requires special responsibility in treatment - the well-being of a person's cardiovascular system throughout his life depends on it.
Prevention
Primary prevention of cardiomegaly is the prevention of diseases that can lead to it, and in case of occurrence, timely detection and treatment. Also important are:
- avoidance of excessive physical exertion on the one hand, moderate physical activity on the other;
- rejection of bad habits;
- blood pressure control;
- weight correction;
- regular professional examinations by a cardiologist - even in the absence of any heart symptoms.
On our site https://dobrobut.com/ you can find out the degrees of cardiomegaly, how it progresses in pregnant women, and possible complications.
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