Re: ENLARGED HEART

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on March 06, 1999 at 06:44:57:

In Reply to: ENLARGED HEART posted by Scott wilson on March 05, 1999 at 13:06:04:






I have the condition of an Enlarged heart (slightly impaired) and recently it has caused me no pain and has not fluttered. I was told that I may have had pericardits or Myocarditis ( I had suffered with the Flu) but that was not definite. I have a second echocardigram due in June(3 months)...
I have in the last week felt an uncomfortable pain in my left side of my chest(under armpit) and feel what seems to be little tiny sacks of water, My Glands in my neck have now swollen and I have a sore throat - so I went to my Doctor and he said that it was just an infection and gave me Penicillin VK  to take :-
Basically I am concerned that the underlying cause of my enlarged heart might not be a virus and may in fact be something else? Could I be over reacting? Could anyone give me some advice on what I can and CAnnot do with thos condition - Excercise - eating alcohol? I am 26 and 220 punds Male.....Many thanks o anyone who can help or suggest aomething....Scott




Dear Scott,
First, exercise is usually recommended to all heart patients, HOWEVER, when the decreased heart function is believed to be related to a recent "flu" or virus, exercise is not recommended during the course of the illness, i.e. until the heart and the patient show signs of recovery (although you may no longer feel the "flu" symptoms, the virus is more than likely still active in your heart muscle.) So basically take it easy until your heart makes a come back, i.e. don't start an exercise program now.
Alcohol is toxic to everyone's heart (in varying degrees of course); absolutely avoid this when you are fighting something that is already toxic to your heart (viral infection or inflammation as you have been told you have.)
Unless you are well over 6 feet tall, at 220 pounds you are well over your ideal body weight and will benefit greatly from dieting and exercise when you recover from all of these infections and their effects on your system.
You should expect regular follow up with the doctor, and there is a good chance that in June your LV function on echo will have returned to normal, i.e. because a large portion of patients with viral cardiomyopathy do recover.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.