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Q: Heart Enlargement And Pain
asked by: tilemanbry on December 19th, 2007
New User
6 years ago I had to go to the doctor for what was determined to be high blood pressure. After running thousands of dollars in tests they said my arteries were fine but a part of my heart wall wasn't working due to the enlargement of my heart from the high blood pressure. Said to get more exercise and handle my stress better.

Question is is it possible for your heart to return to normal size once it has became enlarged if you control what was ailing it?

I ask because I did what they said and felt pretty much fine until the past 4 months. The new job I have doesn't allow me to get the exercise that I once was and their has been a world of stress added to it. Same thing is happening to me again, short of breath....a flutter in my heart rate when stressed out.....which a think much can be chalked upto anxiety. I started to work out again by jogging and lifting weights but now I'm getting pains on my left side which makes me think maybe I am overworking my heart.

So what gives? To control my blood pressure and weight I have to exercise but the exercise might be hurting my heart. It's like a lose/lose situation.
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yogahoneybunny
replied on January 30th, 2008
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Have you considered less stressful workout for your heart? Jogging and lifting weights are like jumping into lava! What about endurance building walking? You can vary your routine. How much exercise are you getting every day.

American Heart Association information on enlarged heart:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jht ml?identifier=4517

What was the diagnostic reason for the enlarged heart?
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MarcoDB
replied on February 6th, 2008
New User
Hi tilemanby,

there are mainly 2 kinds of cardiomegaly:
1- ventricular hypertrophy;
2- Dilatation of the ventricle.

Thus, the evolution of your condition will first depends of what kind of cardiomegaly we are talking about.

In each case, a lot of things may cause the cardiomegaly. So treating the pathology should first consists to clearly identify the exact cause that induced the said pathology. High blood pressure is often associated with cardiomegaly. And it may be the cause. But it can also hides another cause, that one inducing the high blood pressure (eg. 1- main cause X - 2- high blood pressure - 3 - cardiomegaly).

In other words, you need to know:
1) the exact kind of cardiomegaly;
2) the main cause of the pathology.

This investigation should be done by a cardiologist. So once it's done, the cardiologist will be in a better position to tell you exactly what are the activities you can practice or you can not.

Depending of your exact heart condition, some exercices may worsen the situation. But generally, walking is the better exercice you can do and it rarely induces bad consequences. It will/could increases your ventricular function maybe helps your blood circulation.

The main point is you should be treated by a cardiologist
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