$Unique_ID{BRK01531}
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$Title{What do Doctors Mean by an "Enlarged Heart"?}
$Subject{heart enlargement enlarge large Circulatory System Enlarged tumor
tumors big beat beats left ventricles ventricle chamber chambers valve valves
dilated dilate dilation stretch stretched cardiograms cardiogram}
$Volume{G-3}
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Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What do Doctors Mean by an "Enlarged Heart"?


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QUESTION:  Could you please discuss what doctors mean by "an enlarged heart"?
It seems like it might be a good thing if it meant I was more generous, but I
don't think my doctor believes that.  It doesn't mean I have a tumor there,
does it?

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ANSWER:  To take your the last part of your question first, it is doubtful
that your doctor would use the term enlarged heart to describe a tumor.
Tumors of the heart are fairly rare.  And there is a difference between having
a "big" heart and one that is enlarged.  An enlarged heart may first be
detected on physical examination, when the doctor finds that the beat of the
heart is located further out to the left side of the chest than it should be.
A routine chest x-ray may confirm that first impression.  Basically the term
enlarged heart may be used to describe two different situations.  In one, the
muscles of the heart have become larger because of the work demanded from
them.  The walls of the chambers of the heart (essentially the ventricles that
push the blood through the body and lungs) become thicker.  In the second
case, the walls of these same chambers become weaker and thinner due to
disease, perhaps of a heart valve, and become "dilated" (stretched outwards).
These conditions can be evaluated by cardiograms and other tests that help
tell one from the other.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.