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15189889 tn?1470371366

Moderately dilated left ventricle

I'm a wreck! I am 7 weeks postpartum I had an echo done at 3 weeks postpartum and it came back as moderately dilated left ventricle mild dilated left and right artria. I have had high blood pressure on and off for 12 years I am 35 years old my EF was 58% i am freaking out! Doctor thinks it's possibly due to pregnancy  I don't have a history of heart problems but I have never had an echo before. Please help ease some of my fears I feel extremely depressed.
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15189889 tn?1470371366
Thank you so much I have been so stressed about this! I have a repeat echo at the end of next month so I'm hoping there is at least improvement if it's not normal. I just don't want worse.
Helpful - 0
1124887 tn?1313754891
Dilated heart chambers are usually caused by volume overload (high blood volume pumped) while hypertropic (thickened walls) by hypertension (higher pumping resistance)

During pregnancy, your heart rate increases and minute volume increases. Some hearts may dilate a bit during pregnancy for this reason.

Your EF is preserved and hopefully you will be better soon. Hearts have a remarkable ability to adapt to changes and return to normal as the change (in your case pregnancy) is over. Just think of exercise (which causes the heart to both dilate and hypertrophy) and how fast the condition level (unfortunately) returns to normal when you stop exercising :-)
Helpful - 0
15189889 tn?1470371366
Sometimes I wish I didn't do it it's caused me such anxiety!! I want to enjoy my new baby without thinking I'm going to drop dead any minute!
Helpful - 0
976897 tn?1379167602
As long as your blood pressure is under control still. Pregnancy  It's a good job you had an echo done.
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11548417 tn?1506080564
Your EF is in the normal range, therefore I think that chances are good that things will go back to normal.
It can take months to recover. Sometimes improvement even can take years, so be patient!
Helpful - 0
15189889 tn?1470371366
Thank you I appreciate that! My blood pressure was very controlled for most of the pregnancy. Do you think it's  still likely that things will go back to normal ?
Helpful - 0
11548417 tn?1506080564
If, during pregnancy, you had a high blood pressure, this means that your heart had to work harder to push blood round your body.
As a result, the heart may have become enlarged.

If your blood pressure is now within acceptable limits, it is likely that your ventricular and atrial sizes may return to normal with time.
Helpful - 0
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