Your report says “enlarged heart.”
The word “enlarged” may sound as though the heart has grown bigger and stronger.
It usually does not mean that.
An enlarged heart is a finding, not the final diagnosis. The muscle may have thickened because it has been working against high blood pressure. It may also have stretched because it has become weak or damaged.
Other possible causes include heart-valve problems, a previous heart attack, severe anaemia and thyroid disease.
The next step is to find out what has changed and why. A heart ultrasound can show which chamber is enlarged, whether the walls are thickened and how well the heart pumps.
Ask your clinician:
- Which part of my heart is enlarged?
- Is the muscle thickened or stretched?
- How well is my heart pumping?
- What is the likely cause?
Can the heart return to its normal size?
Sometimes. This is more likely when the cause is temporary or treated early. In other cases, the enlargement may remain, but treatment can reduce the strain on the heart and prevent further damage. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Do not begin strenuous exercise or stop prescribed medication until your clinician has explained what the finding means for you.
Seek emergency help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting or a fast or irregular heartbeat accompanied by dizziness.
Bigger does not automatically mean stronger.
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