Possible enlarged heart at 20

[heart8]

Hi, I am a 20 y/o female I posted on here a while ago about chest pains and other sympoms I've been having. I recently went to a new GP and because she didn't have my old notes, when I told her about the pain, she sent me for an ECG and a ChestXR. This time my ECG was normal but now the CXR is not. It shows that my heart 'might be biggger than it should be.'
So now I'm going to see a cardiologist, again.  
What exactly does having an enlarged heart mean, I've looked on the web but found some conflicting info that really confused me. Is it serious or not?
I don't know anything for definite yet as my appointment isn't for a few weeks; i just wanted some accurate info.

[Bakiezz69]

Could Energy drinks and soda pop with very high levels of caffeine sugar and sodium as well as other ingredients consumed daily for 7 years do this to a healthy 19 yr old boy

[heart8]

Thanx for your reply, very informative. My appointment isn't for three weeks and it's all i can think about. I haven't been feeling well for the past twelve months and my old GP kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me but the way i feel is telling me there is. I just need to know exactly what.

[erijon]

An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) is a sign that the heart is overworked. Heart enlargement can be pathological (related to significant heart disease) or physiological (related to exercise or other physical activity). An enlarged heart is an indication of an underlying condition. If it is associated with heart disease, physicians will typically attempt to treat the underlying disease at the same time as the enlarged heart.

An enlarged heart is often present during heart failure, when the heart cannot pump adequate blood to meet the needs of the body, this would be VERY uncommon for a 20 year old. Additionally, a small number of patients have an enlarged heart with no known cause. An enlarged heart may be accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), dizziness, swelling (edema) or irregular heart beat (arrhythmia).

Cardiomegaly may be discovered on an x-ray during an examination for an unrelated condition. Physicians can confirm the diagnosis by conducting an echocardiogram (a test that uses sound waves to evaluate the heart’s anatomy and function).

Treatment for an enlarged heart can include medications (e.g., ACE inhibitors and beta blockers) to treat the condition itself, as well as treatment for any underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart valve disorders. With proper treatment, the condition may be controlled or even reversed, although the underlying disease may be difficult to control. Again, all of this would be very uncommon for someone your age but since you do have symptoms it should be checked out.

I hope this helps,

Jon