{"id":1025,"date":"2026-05-11T08:04:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/?p=1025"},"modified":"2026-10-13T20:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T20:08:50","slug":"what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiomegaly (Enlarged Heart): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Cardiac enlargement (cardiomegaly) is the condition in which the anatomical dimensions of the heart exceed the normal limits within the chest cavity and occupy a larger-than-normal space on radiological imaging. Rather than being an independent disease, this picture is a critical clinical finding that occurs when the heart thickens its muscles or enlarges its chambers in order to maintain its performance in the face of structural defects, volume overload, or infections. In childhood, this change, usually triggered by congenital anomalies or processes such as myocarditis, is a cellular response given by the organ while trying to meet the body\u2019s needs and is a vital alarm signal that must be diagnosed early.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#What_Physical_Changes_Occur_in_the_Structure_of_the_Heart_as_Cardiac_Enlargement_Develops\" >What Physical Changes Occur in the Structure of the Heart as Cardiac Enlargement Develops?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Do_the_Causes_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_in_Childhood_Differ_From_Those_in_Adults\" >How Do the Causes of Cardiac Enlargement in Childhood Differ From Those in Adults?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Do_Congenital_Heart_Holes_Initiate_the_Process_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >How Do Congenital Heart Holes Initiate the Process of Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Do_Genetic_Muscle_Diseases_Affect_the_Picture_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >How Do Genetic Muscle Diseases Affect the Picture of Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#Do_Viral_Infections_and_Heart_Muscle_Inflammations_Cause_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >Do Viral Infections and Heart Muscle Inflammations Cause Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#Are_Systemic_Diseases_Outside_the_Heart_Effective_on_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >Are Systemic Diseases Outside the Heart Effective on Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_in_Infants_and_Babies\" >What Are the Symptoms of Cardiac Enlargement in Infants and Babies?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Do_Symptoms_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Appear_in_Adolescents_and_Older_Children\" >How Do Symptoms of Cardiac Enlargement Appear in Adolescents and Older Children?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Are_Findings_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Detected_During_Clinical_Examination\" >How Are Findings of Cardiac Enlargement Detected During Clinical Examination?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Is_Imaging_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Performed_During_the_Diagnostic_Process\" >How Is Imaging of Cardiac Enlargement Performed During the Diagnostic Process?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#What_Role_Do_Medical_Drugs_Play_in_the_Treatment_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >What Role Do Medical Drugs Play in the Treatment of Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Are_Non-Surgical_Methods_and_Surgical_Operations_Applied_in_the_Treatment_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >How Are Non-Surgical Methods and Surgical Operations Applied in the Treatment of Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#How_Should_the_Nutrition_Plan_and_Lifestyle_of_Children_With_Cardiac_Enlargement_Be\" >How Should the Nutrition Plan and Lifestyle of Children With Cardiac Enlargement Be?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/what-is-an-enlarged-heart-symptoms-causes-and-treatment\/#What_Kind_of_Long-Term_Process_Awaits_Children_Diagnosed_With_Cardiac_Enlargement\" >What Kind of Long-Term Process Awaits Children Diagnosed With Cardiac Enlargement?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Physical_Changes_Occur_in_the_Structure_of_the_Heart_as_Cardiac_Enlargement_Develops\"><\/span>What Physical Changes Occur in the Structure of the Heart as Cardiac Enlargement Develops?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cardiac enlargement basically occurs through two different mechanisms and changes the shape of the heart in different ways. The first is wall thickening, namely hypertrophy, which is seen in cases where there is an obstacle in front of the heart that makes it difficult to pump blood. In order to eject blood against a narrowed vessel or high pressure, the heart thickens its muscle tissue, just like the muscles of an athlete who constantly lifts weights. Although this thickening may seem to strengthen the heart, it actually causes the tissue to lose its elasticity and prevents the chambers from receiving enough blood. The second form of change is enlargement of the heart chambers, namely dilatation. If there is a hole inside the heart or backward leakage in the valves, the heart fills with a much larger volume of blood than normal. The heart muscle trying to cope with this extra fluid load stretches and expands like a balloon filled with too much water. Both structural changes seriously reduce the heart\u2019s pumping efficiency, resulting in a gradual decrease in the amount of clean blood reaching the tissues.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_the_Causes_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_in_Childhood_Differ_From_Those_in_Adults\"><\/span>How Do the Causes of Cardiac Enlargement in Childhood Differ From Those in Adults?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In society, cardiac enlargement is generally known as a problem seen in older ages, and the causes in adults are largely associated with unhealthy lifestyle or aging. Long-standing untreated hypertension, coronary artery blockages, previous silent heart attacks, or long-term heavy smoking are the main factors that strain and enlarge the heart in adults. However, the clinical picture we encounter in childhood and infancy is based on a completely different foundation. Most of the factors that cause an increase in heart size in children are based on congenital structural developmental defects, mutations inherited through genes, or severe viral infections targeting the heart muscle. A child\u2019s heart is not merely a version of an adult heart reduced by a few centimeters; its cellular structure, growth potential, and responses to environmental diseases have a very different dynamic. Therefore, cases of enlargement in children must be handled with completely different diagnostic perspectives only by specialists who have received specific training and experience in this field.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Congenital_Heart_Holes_Initiate_the_Process_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>How Do Congenital Heart Holes Initiate the Process of Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Disruptions during the cellular development stage of the heart in the womb may lead to the formation of holes in the walls that isolate the right and left chambers of the heart from each other. Large holes between the ventricles or openings between the atria are the best-known anatomical examples of this condition. In a normal and healthy circulatory system, the left side of the heart is very strong and has high pressure because it pumps blood to the entire body against high resistance. The right side, on the other hand, has very low pressure because it sends blood only to the nearby lung sponges. If there is a hole between them, the high-pressure, oxygen-rich blood on the left side continuously rushes through the hole to the right side. This causes the right heart and delicate lung vessels to overflow with much more blood than their capacity. Since some of the blood that should go to the body constantly leaks to the other side, the heart begins to work and struggle with more effort than normal in order to meet the needs of the tissues. This endless cycle of excessive workload causes the chambers of the heart to become rapidly fatigued and enlarge outward by dilating.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Genetic_Muscle_Diseases_Affect_the_Picture_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>How Do Genetic Muscle Diseases Affect the Picture of Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes there is no hole between the chambers of the heart, no leakage in its valves, and no narrowing in its vessels. The problem lies entirely in the genetic architecture of the muscle fibers that make up the heart. These diseases, called cardiomyopathies, are primary diseases and weakening of the heart muscle itself. The most common type in children is dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle relaxes almost like an elastic cloth and largely loses its ability to contract. In this condition, the heart cannot eject the blood inside it forward with sufficient pressure, and blood continuously pools within the heart cavities, causing the heart to reach enormous anatomical dimensions. In another type, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the situation is exactly the opposite at the cellular level. Due to faulty genetic coding, heart muscle cells thicken uncontrollably and completely asymmetrically. The heart walls become so thick that the volume space inside the heart shrinks and the main outlet pathway of blood is physically obstructed. Both conditions are clinical pictures that deeply disrupt the rhythmic functioning of the heart and have a very high familial inheritance risk.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Viral_Infections_and_Heart_Muscle_Inflammations_Cause_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>Do Viral Infections and Heart Muscle Inflammations Cause Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Simple viruses that cause colds, severe flu, or digestive system infections, which are especially common among preschool children during winter and autumn months, may in rare cases enter the bloodstream and reach directly into the heart muscle cells. When the virus settles in the heart tissue, the process of heart muscle inflammation called myocarditis is triggered. However, the main destructive cellular effect comes not from the virus itself, but from the intense and unfocused response of the body\u2019s own immune system. While immune cells try to destroy the virus in the heart, they may also begin to mistakenly attack the body\u2019s own healthy heart muscle cells through cross-reaction. As a result of this intense inflammatory storm, the heart muscle develops severe edema, becomes heavy, and loses its contraction function within a very short time. In order to compensate for this sudden drop in mechanical performance, the heart rapidly enlarges volumetrically. If treatment is started early, this enlargement may have a temporary character; however, in some unfortunate cases, the inflammation may leave permanent fibrotic damage and evolve into chronic cardiac enlargement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Systemic_Diseases_Outside_the_Heart_Effective_on_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>Are Systemic Diseases Outside the Heart Effective on Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A radiological increase in heart size is not always a sign of a problem within the heart\u2019s own internal organ structure. Disorders occurring in completely different cellular systems of the body may also indirectly place stress on the heart and cause it to enlarge. The most striking example of this in children is severe, untreated anemia. When the number of cells carrying oxygen, which gives life to tissues in the blood, falls to critical levels, the body sends hormonal signals to the heart to constantly pump faster and in greater amounts in order to avoid an oxygen crisis. To keep up with this situation, the heart works at a very high pulse rate without rest for years and eventually enlarges due to muscle fatigue. Similarly, thyroid gland diseases wear down the heart by abnormally accelerating metabolism. In children with chronic kidney disease, resistant hypertension that develops because the kidneys cannot eliminate fluids is also among the systemic factors that cause the heart to work against very stiff vascular resistance while pumping blood and lay the groundwork for compensatory thickening of its walls.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_in_Infants_and_Babies\"><\/span>What Are the Symptoms of Cardiac Enlargement in Infants and Babies?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since babies cannot express themselves verbally, parents and caregivers must very carefully notice the clues showing that their hearts are struggling during daily routines. For a baby, the most physically demanding activity of the day is breastfeeding or feeding with formula. A baby with an enlarged and tired heart struggles during this feeding activity just like an adult doing weight training.<\/p>\n<p>The most common symptoms in babies are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Excessive sweating (especially while sucking\/feeding)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Easy fatigue (especially while sucking\/feeding)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Rapid breathing<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Refusal to feed, eating little<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Failure to gain weight<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Developmental delay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The constant intense work of the heart and respiratory system causes the baby to burn a tremendous amount of calories even while sleeping. Although the baby tries to feed as much as possible, the internal energy expenditure is so high that the calories taken in are not enough for body tissues to grow. Therefore, weight gain stops and they remain far behind the growth curves of their peers. In addition, because the fluid that the heart cannot fully pump accumulates in the lungs, these babies\u2019 breathing cycles are always shallow, labored, and markedly rapid.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Symptoms_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Appear_in_Adolescents_and_Older_Children\"><\/span>How Do Symptoms of Cardiac Enlargement Appear in Adolescents and Older Children?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As children grow and the time they spend on physical play activities, school running around, and sports increases, the moments when a weakened and enlarged heart cannot meet the body\u2019s increasing needs become much more apparent. Activities that healthy peers perform easily and joyfully become a difficult obstacle for a child with a problematic heart.<\/p>\n<p>Complaints observed in older children include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Shortness of breath<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Easy fatigue<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Palpitations<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Dizziness<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Fainting<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Chest pain<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Unexplained fainting<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Edema in the legs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Especially during effort-requiring moments such as climbing stairs or running, the mechanical insufficiency in the heart\u2019s contraction power suddenly decreases the amount of oxygen going to the brain and muscles. This may lead to dangerous fainting episodes resulting in blackout, loss of balance, or complete loss of consciousness. In more advanced stages of the disease, because the heart cannot pump blood forward, blood pools backward in the venous system. This physiological disorder creates a systemic picture characterized by liver distension, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, and swelling in the ankles due to the effect of gravity.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Findings_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Detected_During_Clinical_Examination\"><\/span>How Are Findings of Cardiac Enlargement Detected During Clinical Examination?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After a very detailed history of complaints is taken from the family, a meticulous physical examination is the most important cornerstone of the overall evaluation. During auscultation with a stethoscope on the chest wall, the heart valve sounds and rhythm of the heartbeat are examined. The rustling sound heard in addition to normal heart sounds, produced when blood passes through a hole inside the heart or leaks through a faulty valve, is called a murmur. The location where the murmur is heard and its frequency intensity are the most obvious external reflections of an internal structural problem. When the heart enlarges, the surface area it contacts within the chest cavity expands; therefore, during manual palpation, the mechanical beats of the heart are felt over a much wider anatomical area and quite strongly. In addition, if right heart failure has developed, deoxygenated blood trying to return to the heart from the body pools under pressure in the liver and large veins in the neck. During examination, the liver feeling larger than normal under the fingers and the neck veins appearing visibly swollen from the outside greatly clarify the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Imaging_of_Cardiac_Enlargement_Performed_During_the_Diagnostic_Process\"><\/span>How Is Imaging of Cardiac Enlargement Performed During the Diagnostic Process?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a child suspected of having increased heart size, technological imaging tools are used extensively to make a definitive anatomical diagnosis and identify the main source of the disease.<\/p>\n<p>The main diagnostic methods used are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Chest X-ray<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Echocardiography<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Electrocardiography<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">24-hour rhythm Holter device<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Blood tests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the first stage, a standard standing chest X-ray shows the silhouette ratio of the heart between the lungs. However, the undisputed standard method that provides the main definitive cellular diagnosis is echocardiography. With this completely painless and zero-radiation sound wave method, live and moving sections of the heart are examined. The internal millimetric diameters of the chambers, how much the muscle walls have thickened, and most importantly, the percentage of blood the heart can pump forward are calculated as a clear mathematical value. Electrocardiographies that map the heart\u2019s electrical stimulation are performed to detect rhythm disorders; when palpitation complaints occur intermittently during the day, these small recording devices are attached to the child\u2019s chest and continuous rhythm monitoring is performed for days.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Role_Do_Medical_Drugs_Play_in_the_Treatment_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>What Role Do Medical Drugs Play in the Treatment of Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When the diagnosis is confirmed with imaging methods, the medical treatment protocol that will support the heart is initiated without delay. The primary goal here is not to restore the heart anatomically completely to its former state, but to reduce the burden on the heart, make its work easier, and prevent progressive damage.<\/p>\n<p>The main drug groups used are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Diuretics<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Vasodilators<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Beta blockers<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Blood thinners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Preparations with diuretic properties allow excess fluid that the heart cannot pump and that accumulates in the lung alveoli and tissues to be filtered and eliminated through the kidneys; this allows the child\u2019s breathing to deepen and become easier. The vasodilator group relaxes the arterial network in the body and breaks down the high-pressure wall the heart encounters while ejecting blood; the heart begins to work by spending much less mechanical effort than before. Beta blockers block, at the cellular level, the constant stimulation of the heart by intense stress hormones produced by the body. Thus, the heart is prevented from beating excessively fast, the heart rests, and with months of treatment, major structural contribution is made to the gradual recovery and shrinkage of enlarged chambers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Non-Surgical_Methods_and_Surgical_Operations_Applied_in_the_Treatment_of_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>How Are Non-Surgical Methods and Surgical Operations Applied in the Treatment of Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If the cause of cardiac enlargement is a structurally narrowed valve or a defect between the chambers, medical drugs only relieve the patient but do not eliminate the actual physical obstacle. Thanks to the current level of device technology, a very large portion of such anatomical problems can be corrected in angiography laboratories without opening the chest, by entering only through a vessel in the groin with thin tubes. Special deflated balloons advanced to a narrowed valve are inflated under high pressure while exactly inside the valve, safely tearing the fused tissues and opening the blood passageway permanently. Holes inside the heart are completely closed by leaving very special titanium devices resembling a small umbrella in the area of the defect using the same comfortable method.<\/p>\n<p>However, in difficult cases where the valves are too narrowed to be opened with a balloon, where there are multiple complex holes, or where the great vessels leaving the heart are reversed, open-heart surgery is the only solution. After stopping the heart and connecting it to a machine, surgeons carefully repair the mechanical defects inside it. In cases where the heart muscle has thickened inward excessively, the excess thickened tissue is shaved to create a channel through which blood can flow easily. In the final-stage cases that do not respond to medications or surgery, artificial support pumps that fully take over the mechanical function of the heart are placed in the body so the patient can survive, gaining safe time until the definitive treatment, heart transplantation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Should_the_Nutrition_Plan_and_Lifestyle_of_Children_With_Cardiac_Enlargement_Be\"><\/span>How Should the Nutrition Plan and Lifestyle of Children With Cardiac Enlargement Be?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The need of a weakened heart to constantly beat very fast in order to survive and the continuous effort of respiratory muscles struggling to breathe cause the basal metabolism of these children to work at incredibly high levels. The cellular energy they spend even at daily rest is so high that standard foods or normal portions cannot provide the fuel needed for their growth.<\/p>\n<p>The basic rules in nutrition planning are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">High-calorie formulas<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Frequent and small portions<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Strict salt restriction<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Daily fluid monitoring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Since babies tire very quickly from the act of sucking during feeding, they should be fed with small and very frequent meals spread throughout the day instead of large amounts at once. Salt added to foods should be strictly restricted, as it retains water in the body like a sponge and increases the fluid volume and pressure that the heart must pump. In daily social life, it is not desirable psychologically or physically for patients to be completely confined to bed; light walks on flat ground within their own tolerance limits are beneficial.<\/p>\n<p>Activities recommended to be avoided include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Competitive team sports<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Short-distance sprints<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Weight training<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Extremely hot environments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sports that suddenly require very high effort and adrenaline, especially amateur football matches and basketball, may instantly increase the heart\u2019s oxygen demand to a peak and trigger dangerous and fatal rhythm disorders. In addition, children with thickening of the heart walls must take care not to sweat excessively or become dehydrated; this is an indispensable lifestyle rule to prevent the risk of fainting.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Kind_of_Long-Term_Process_Awaits_Children_Diagnosed_With_Cardiac_Enlargement\"><\/span>What Kind of Long-Term Process Awaits Children Diagnosed With Cardiac Enlargement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The course of the disease over the years and the definitive success rate depend directly on the underlying factor that enlarged the heart and how promptly medical intervention was performed. For example, if the condition involves a heart that enlarged after a severe infection or a heart hole repaired in time with a successful angiographic procedure, these children\u2019s hearts may completely return to their former form after months of treatment, and they may participate in life as healthy individuals without any social or physical restrictions throughout their lives. However, in cardiomyopathies caused by genetic codes that disrupt the muscle tissue from birth, the physiological process generally continues lifelong and requires very careful professional follow-up.<\/p>\n<p>Procedures performed during regular clinical follow-ups include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Heart performance measurements<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Weight-based medication adjustment<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Rhythm disorder screening<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Examination of family members<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cardiac enlargement (cardiomegaly) is the condition in which the anatomical dimensions of the heart exceed the normal limits within the chest cavity and occupy a larger-than-normal space on radiological imaging. Rather than being an independent disease, this picture is a critical clinical finding that occurs when the heart thickens its muscles or enlarges its chambers [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatric-cardiology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1025"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3093,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025\/revisions\/3093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}