How long can you live with enlarged heart?

The effect of an enlarged heart on life expectancy depends in part on the underlying cause. But even with treatment, many people have a downhill course. Most with severe heart disease die within a few years.
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Can you live a normal life with an enlarged heart?

Usually providers treat an enlarged heart by managing conditions that have caused your heart to thicken or dilate. There is a chance that an enlarged heart will not go away. But most people can manage their symptoms and enjoy a high quality of life.
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Is an enlarged heart a death sentence?

Depending on the condition, an enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent. Treatment for an enlarged heart may include medications, medical procedures or surgery.
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Is having an enlarged heart serious?

An enlarged heart may have several causes. including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. It may not pump blood effectively, which can cause congestive heart failure.
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How do you fix an enlarged heart?

Surgery or other procedures to treat an enlarged heart may include:
  1. Pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that's usually implanted near the collarbone. ...
  2. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). ...
  3. Heart valve surgery. ...
  4. Coronary bypass surgery. ...
  5. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD). ...
  6. Heart transplant.
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What causes Heart Failure? | How long can you live with Heart Failure? | Apollo Hospitals



What are the warning signs of an enlarged heart?

Symptoms
  • shortness of breath.
  • chest pain.
  • heart palpitations (rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat)
  • arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • dizziness.
  • fainting.
  • rapid exhaustion with physical activity.
  • swelling.
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Is it OK to exercise with an enlarged heart?

Moderate exercise can be very beneficial for elderly patients with enlarged hearts. As expected based on previous studies, the medication was about twice as effective in lowering systolic blood pressure — the top number in a blood pressure reading.
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Can an enlarged heart go back to its normal size?

A heart that gets larger than normal size is usually the result of a disease or health problem. Sometimes the enlargement only lasts a little while and the heart returns to its normal size. This can happen during pregnancy. But, it also can stem from a serious health condition.
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What 3 foods cardiologists say to avoid?

“Avoid any foods that have the words 'trans,' 'hydrogenated,' or 'partially hydrogenated' on the label [indicating bad fats], often found in commercially fried foods, donuts, cookies and potato chips,” advises Dr. DeVane. “Also, be aware of how many calories are coming from sugar.
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Is an enlarged heart a disability?

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a common type of heart muscle disease that causes an enlarged heart. Social Security evaluates dilated cardiomyopathy under its disability listing for chronic heart failure.
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Can an enlarged heart cause sudden death?

Depending on the cause of the enlarged heart, it may or may not be reversible. Over time, an enlarged heart can cause serious health problems. Most notably, it can increase the risk of sudden death. In addition, it can cause fluid to build up in the body and lungs, which can lead to heart failure.
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What are the 4 stages of heart failure?

There are four heart failure stages (Stage A, B, C and D). The stages range from "high risk of developing heart failure" to "advanced heart failure."
...
Stage C
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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What does a heart failure cough sound like?

You may experience a persistent cough or wheezing (a whistling sound in the lungs or laboured breathing) due to your heart failure. The wheezing is similar to asthma but has a different cause in heart failure.
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What is a mildly enlarged heart?

In mild cardiomegaly, the heart is slightly bigger than your fist. This matters because it can be a sign of underlying heart disease. If someone has told you that you have mild cardiomegaly, that means they have seen your heart, usually through an imaging method such as an X-ray or ultrasound.
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Do athletes have enlarged hearts?

In the case of athletes who do a lot of very high-intensity training, the heart sometimes actually gets a little bigger. The term “athlete's heart” refers to a natural, subtle enlargement that can happen as the heart adapts to intense athletic training.
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What food is good for enlarged heart?

eating a heart-healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean poultry, fish, low fat dairy, and whole grains. limiting salt and saturated and trans fats. avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
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Which drink is best for heart?

Drink: Water

Plain old water might be the best thing to drink for overall health, and that includes your heart.
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Which fruit is best for heart?

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are jam-packed with important nutrients that play a central role in heart health. Berries are also rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins, which protect against the oxidative stress and inflammation that contribute to the development of heart disease ( 9 ).
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Is egg good for heart?

Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without increasing their risk of heart disease. Some studies have shown that this level of egg consumption might even help prevent certain types of stroke and a serious eye condition called macular degeneration that can lead to blindness.
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Can stress cause enlarged heart?

Contact. DURHAM, N.C. -- When judging whether or not an enlarged heart is healthy or potentially at risk for heart disease, the nature of the physiological stress that produced the enlargement is more important than the duration of the stress, according to a new study led by Duke University Medical Center investigators ...
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Can an enlarged heart be reversed naturally?

With certain conditions, such as congestive heart failure, complete reversal of the enlargement of the heart may not be possible. But with other conditions, such as pregnancy or a treatable infection, a complete reversal of the condition may be possible.
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Can weight loss reverse an enlarged heart?

Adding pounds can change the structure of your heart and its ability to pump blood. But losing weight can reverse this potentially deadly process, the researchers said.
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What problems can an enlarged heart cause?

Enlarged or 'dilated' heart is one of the most common types of cardiomyopathy. The most common symptom patients get with cardiomyopathy is shortness of breath and swelling of the ankles. Rarer symptoms include dizziness and chest pain. myocarditis – an infection of the heart that is generally caused by a virus.
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Can an ECG detect an enlarged heart?

Electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect an enlarged heart as well as determine if a heart is overworked or damaged.
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Can alcohol cause enlarged heart?

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is due to drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time, which can weaken your heart so it can no longer pump blood efficiently. Your heart can also become enlarged.
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