Getting to the core of enlarged heart symptoms
With the kind of lifestyle we follow nowadays, it is very important to take care of ourselves, and especially of our hearts. This is because the heart is a very essential organ that pumps blood to all parts of the body. When the muscles of the heart work beyond their efficiency, it leads to enlarged heart – symptoms being seen in an individual.

What is an enlarged heart?
Just as humans themselves, even hearts bear certain limitations and only function up to a certain level. If it is worked beyond that limit, there can be some serious issues that an individual might have to face. Let’s get an overview of what an enlarged heart is and its symptoms before going further with the issues it can cause.

• When your heart expands and becomes bigger than the normal heart size, it is referred to as an enlarged heart.
• It might be because your heart is not pumping blood effectively.
• Heart enlargement, in simple terms, happens because the heart functions beyond its capabilities.
• Some people misunderstand it as being a disease, but it is, in fact, a condition, which can lead to other very critical problems, like a probable heart attack.

What are the common enlarged heart – symptoms?
While sometimes an enlarged heart might not show any specific symptoms, there are times when it becomes quite evident, which indicate that the heart is on the brink of something critical, and must be paid immediate attention to.

• A person with an enlarged heart might get out of breath very quickly, especially when they are lying down in a flat position or are indulging in a minimally strenuous physical activity.
• A person gaining rapid weight in the midsection may have an enlarged heart.
• Swelling of the legs is a very common enlarged heart – symptom in people.
• There is no proper rhythm in the way the heart beats. The person even might suffer from irregular palpitations.

What leads to the enlargement of heart?
Here are a few things because of which your heart is forced to pump harder than its usual efficiency.

• A very high blood pressure pumps blood with a force that is not normal, and this puts pressure on the heart.
• If a person has a history of heart attacks, it could be a possibility that they might have to face the problem of heart enlargement. This is because the heart muscles have already weakened from the previous heart attack, and the heart will have to enlarge to expand its capabilities to function efficiently.
• Obesity is a danger siren in any case. Enlargement of the heart is definitely triggered by obesity, as chances of high blood pressure in obese people are very high.
• With age, the elasticity of the arteries reduces significantly, because of which the blood vessels stiffen and blood pressure increases tremendously.

How can enlargement of the heart be diagnosed?
There are several ways through which heart enlargement can be diagnosed. They are explained and listed here:

• ECG, which stands for electrocardiogram is one of the ways to do this. It measures the activity of your heart to check whether your heart is functioning properly.
• You may even be administered a blood test to determine the level of sugar, fats, cholesterol, and protein in your body.
• An X-ray of the chest will give a clear picture of the aorta, lungs, and the heart.
• A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) renders clear pictures and reports pertaining to the blood vessels and the heart.

Who is more prone to enlarged heart and its symptoms?
The individuals prone to heart enlargement more than the others are as follows:

• People who are overly obese.
• People who smoke a lot or consume a lot of alcohol.
• People whose lifestyle is mostly sedentary.
• If a person has a family history of heart ailments or heart enlargement, they may face enlarged heart symptoms.
• If a person has a metabolic disorder or is going through thyroid, there are chances that the heart might enlarge.