Answer:

An enlarged heart, medically known as cardiomegaly, occurs when the heart is larger than normal due to abnormal thickening of the heart walls or dilation of its chambers. This condition can be temporary or permanent, affecting the entire heart or specific parts. It typically results from damage to the heart muscle or any condition that forces the heart to pump blood more forcefully than usual. In some cases, an enlarged heart and impaired function occur without a clear cause, a condition known as idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

Specific causes of an enlarged heart include congenital heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, pericardial effusion, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and anemia. Other contributing factors can be thyroid dysfunction, iron overload in the body, cardiac amyloidosis, and prolonged, high-intensity exercise.

Without a detailed medical history for your mother, the precise cause of her enlarged heart cannot be determined. Regardless of the underlying cause, an enlarged heart significantly impacts quality of life and can lead to several dangerous complications.

Heart failure: This is a common complication for individuals with an enlarged heart, often presenting as left-sided heart failure and congestive heart failure. When the heart muscle dilates, its pumping ability diminishes, preventing the heart from supplying enough blood to meet the body's demands. The heart must then work harder to maintain blood flow, leading to severe weakening.

Blood clots in the heart chambers: An enlarged heart impedes blood circulation, causing blood to pool in the heart chambers and facilitating the formation of blood clots. These clots can travel through the bloodstream, leading to myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and other serious events.

Heart valve regurgitation: An enlarged heart can stretch the mitral and tricuspid valve rings, preventing the valves from closing completely and resulting in heart valve regurgitation.

Cardiac arrest: Thickened heart muscle and dilated heart chambers can easily trigger arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular premature beats. A heart beating too fast or too slow can cause fainting. In severe cases, it can lead to complete cardiac arrest. Without timely emergency intervention, sudden cardiac arrest carries a high risk of fatality. An enlarged heart is a common cause of sudden death in individuals under 30 years of age.

Treatment for an enlarged heart depends on its underlying cause. Common methods include medication, such as drugs for heart failure, diuretics, antihypertensives, blood thinners, and rhythm-stabilizing medications. In cases where medication is insufficient, doctors may consider devices or surgical interventions like pacemaker implantation, heart valve replacement, coronary artery stenting, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, or heart transplantation.

Doctors perform mitral valve repair surgery for a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

If your mother's symptoms persist or worsen despite consistent medication as prescribed by her doctor, you should arrange a follow-up appointment for her. It is crucial to prevent the condition from progressing and leading to complications such as arrhythmias or congestive heart failure. Individuals with an enlarged heart should adopt several lifestyle changes: maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, refraining from smoking, and avoiding stimulants.

Master of Science, Doctor Dinh Vu Phuong Thao

Department of Cardiology, Heart Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM