Cardiomegaly

Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly on chest X-ray with a pacemaker
SpecialtyCardiology
TypesAthletic heart syndrome,[1] Ventricular hypertrophy, Atrial enlargement
CausesDilated cardiomyopathy,[2][3][4][5] Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.[1][6][7][8][9]
Diagnostic methodHypertrophic cardiomyopathy screening[10][11]

Cardiomegaly (sometimes megacardia or megalocardia) is a medical condition in which the heart becomes enlarged. It is more commonly referred to simply as "having an enlarged heart". It is usually the result of underlying conditions that make the heart work harder, such as obesity, heart valve disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), and coronary artery disease. Cardiomyopathy is also associated with cardiomegaly.[12]

Cardiomegaly can be serious and can result in congestive heart failure. Recent studies suggest that cardiomegaly is associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death.[13]

Cardiomegaly may diminish over time, but many people with an enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy) need lifelong medication.[14] Having a family history of cardiomegaly may indicate an increased risk for this condition.[15]

Lifestyle factors that can help prevent cardiomegaly include eating a healthy diet, controlling blood pressure, exercise, medications, and not abusing anabolic-androgenic steroids, alcohol and cocaine.[15]

  1. ^ a b "Enlarged heart". Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29. Types...Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), Intense, prolonged athletic training
  2. ^ Hershberger, Ray E; Morales, Ana; Siegfried, Jill D (22 September 2010). "Clinical and genetic issues in dilated cardiomyopathy: A review for genetics professionals". Genetics in Medicine. 12 (11): 655–667. doi:10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181f2481f. PMC 3118426. PMID 20864896.
  3. ^ Luk, A; Ahn, E; Soor, G S; Butany, J (18 November 2008). "Dilated cardiomyopathy: a review". Journal of Clinical Pathology. 62 (3): 219–225. doi:10.1136/jcp.2008.060731. PMID 19017683. S2CID 28182534.
  4. ^ "What Is an Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly)?". WebMD. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  5. ^ Lee, Ji Eun; Oh, Jin-Hee; Lee, Jae Young; Koh, Dae Kyun (2014). "Massive Cardiomegaly due to Dilated Cardiomyopathy Causing Bronchial Obstruction in an Infant". Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound. 22 (2): 84–7. doi:10.4250/jcu.2014.22.2.84. PMC 4096670. PMID 25031799.
  6. ^ Marian, Ali J.; Braunwald, Eugene (15 September 2017). "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy". Circulation Research. 121 (7): 749–770. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.117.311059. PMC 5654557. PMID 28912181.
  7. ^ Maron, Martin S (1 February 2012). "Clinical Utility of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy". Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. 14 (1): 13. doi:10.1186/1532-429X-14-13. PMC 3293092. PMID 22296938.
  8. ^ Almog, C; Weissberg, D; Herczeg, E; Pajewski, M (1 February 1977). "Thymolipoma simulating cardiomegaly: a clinicopathological rarity". Thorax. 32 (1): 116–120. doi:10.1136/thx.32.1.116. PMC 470537. PMID 138960.
  9. ^ Hou, Jianglong; Kang, Y. James (September 2012). "Regression of pathological cardiac hypertrophy: Signaling pathways and therapeutic targets". Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 135 (3): 337–354. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.06.006. PMC 3458709. PMID 22750195.
  10. ^ Luis Fuentes, Virginia; Wilkie, Lois J. (September 2017). "Asymptomatic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy" (PDF). Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 47 (5): 1041–1054. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.05.002. PMID 28662873.
  11. ^ Maron, Barry J; Maron, Martin S (January 2013). "Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy". The Lancet. 381 (9862): 242–255. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60397-3. PMID 22874472. S2CID 38333896.
  12. ^ "Overview of Cardiomyopathies". The Lecturio Medical Concept Library. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. ^ Tavora F; et al. (2012). "Cardiomegaly is a common arrhythmogenic substrate in adult sudden cardiac deaths and is associated with obesity". Pathology. 44 (3): 187–91. doi:10.1097/PAT.0b013e3283513f54. PMID 22406485. S2CID 25422195.
  14. ^ "What Is an Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly)?". WebMD.
  15. ^ a b "Enlarged heart - Symptoms and causes". mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 19 March 2018.