suggestion

i am 62 years old.my E.C.G report says left aterial enlargement....give advice..

[kenkeith]

I beleive you are referring to an EKG.  That is the procedure to assess the heart's electric impulse integrity for any irregularities, and the test has limited selectivity for structural abnormalities.  

For some insight:A left arterial enlargement relates to the chamber above the left ventricle (pumping chamber).  The significance can be that there is mitral valve regurgitation (backflow of blood into the LA) or there could be orifice stenosis of the mitral valve indicating the opening has narrowed and the pressure within the LA causes an increase it size.
Hope this helps, but if you have any further questions feel free to ask. I wouldn't be to concerned about an EKG output as it requires further evidence to confirm, and that would be an echocardiogram. Take care.

[erijon]

An EKG is a very poor tool to diagnose an enlarged LA. The only truly accurate way is an LA Volume test which few cardiologist do as an enlarged LA is usually of little or no significance unless it is very enlarged. It does increase your risk of afib and stroke as blood is allowed to pool in your LA and could form a clot.  The most important thing is to identify and resolve the underlying cause which is usually prolonged high blood pressure.

Good luck,

Jon

[Flycaster305]

I believe an EKG and ECG are the same test, its referenced both ways.  

[ChatterAlly]

I found this and thought it might be of some interest to you:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/left-atrial-enlargement/show/254649

Take care, Ally

[kenkeith]

I have researched whether systemic HPB as a direct cause for a  LA enlargement. It has always been my understanding that HBP causes an enlargement of the LV as the heart is pumping against high resistance.  An enlarged LV causes the LA to enlarge as it is pumping against the high resistance of the LV.  Or high resistance from ASD. Or high resistance with MV stenosis.  MVR increases blood volume within the LA and an enlargement.  

Ally, I found the same information in my search:).  A snippit:
"Many things -- too much blood volume in the heart, narrowed valves in the heart (mitral valve), increased heart pressrues, increased heart stiffness, primary myocardial diseases or myopathies"

Additionally: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/left-atrial-enlargement.html.
Left Atrial Enlargement - Causes

Disruption in normal blood flow is one of the most common causes of left atrial enlargement. Also known as left atrial dilation, the condition may occur due to the following reasons:

Obesity
This is one of the leading causes of left atrial enlargement in children. Recent reports suggests that obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in children, thus making them prone to this condition. Obese people are often found to be overweight and inactive. Excessive body weight can trigger heart problems like left atrial enlargement, wherein the muscle wall of the left atrium thickens. New research has also revealed that enlarged chambers of the heart are often the result of obesity. Read more on enlarged heart in children.

Stress
Increased workload in the office can certainly put a person under tremendous pressure and negatively affect the heart, which may manifest in the form of left atrial enlargement.

High Blood Pressure
The main function of the heart is to pump fresh oxygenated blood to different parts of the body through veins, capillaries and arteries. A specific pressure is maintained by the heart to regulate normal blood flow, which is known as blood pressure. However, when there is too much pressure inside the arteries, the condition is referred as high blood pressure. This happens because the arteries get slightly compressed. As a result, the heart has to increase its efficiency and work harder to push the blood through the narrow arteries. This overburden can be strenuous for the heart. The size of the heart increases due to excessive strain on the heart muscles. No wonder people with high blood pressure are diagnosed with left atrial enlargement.

Narrowed Mitral Value
The mitral valve of the heart connects chambers located on the left side of the heart (left atrium and left ventricle). In case of heart problems the mitral valve constricts or stiffens. In such cases, more pressure is exerted on the left atrium to pump blood in sufficient amounts to the left ventricle. In other words, the left atrium has to work harder to maintain flow between the two chambers. This excessive load can also cause left atrium enlargement.

Lung Disease
As the left atrium takes fresh oxygenated blood from the lungs and then passes it on to the left ventricle, any infection or a disease that considerably decreases the functionality of lungs, may also cause left atrial enlargement.