The findings of an enlarged heart on chest xray canr represent a long list of possibilities. It sounds like your husband is getting the appropriate testing to look into this issue more closely. An echocardiogram would provide more detailed information about the size of the various chambers of the heart. Also, an echocardiogram will be able to determine if your husband's heart is pumping normally, if there are any valve abnormalities, or if there is fluid around the heart. Specifically, sleep apnea may cause increased pressure in the lungs, and lead to enlargement of the right side of the heart.The first step is to obtain more information with the echocardiogram and proceed accordingly.
An enlarged heart isn’t a condition in itself, but a symptom of an underlying problem that is causing the heart to work harder than normal.
If your respriation is compromised by pneumonia, the heart will have to work harder to meet the oxygen demand. A harder working heart can cause the left ventricle to enlarge. If the LV is dilated from overwork, there can be a reverse of the remodeling when the load is reduced or medication to reduce the afterload (dilate vessels) less resistance for the heart to pump against.
Thanks for you question, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond. Take care,
Ken
Thank you both for your comments, the test he had yesterday has come back clear & I have found out the Echo he is having on Monday is a TOE (transoesophogeal Echocardiogram) which I have researched, so I know they are doing everything they can to find out what is wrong with hubby which puts my mind at rest. Thanks again for your answers, I appreciate the time you took to write them :-)
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Does your husband have a family history of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy??