Re: Enlarged Heart

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on June 26, 1998 at 22:54:19:

In Reply to: Enlarged Heart posted by JoAnn West on June 26, 1998 at 07:53:53:






Good Morning,
My son, Barry has just been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. He is 32 yrs old
and was also told that he has hypertension. What is the treatment, is this reversible, and he also is very fit. He runs several miles per day and works in a very stressful situation as a firefighter.
Any information will be helpful.
Thank you
JoAnn West
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Dear JoAnn:
Many different processes can lead to an enlarged heart.  High blood pressure [hypertension] can, over time, cause the heart muscle to get larger as a compensatory process.  This enlargement is reversible with treatment and good control of the blood pressure.  
Sometimes people that are very athletic have enlarged hearts, and this is not a problem, and no treatment is required.  
Some people are born with an enlarged heart or the tendency to develop an enlarged heart.  This can be treated with medicines, but sometimes requires surgery.
Some people develop an enlarged heart as a consequence of a viral infection.  This is sometimes reversible with medications.
Thus, whether your sons condition is reversible depends on the cause of the enlargement.  Hopefully, it is the hypertension that has caused the heart enlargement, and with time and proper medications, this should get better.
I hope this has been of use.  Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.