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An enlarged heart isn鈥檛 a condition in itself 鈥� it鈥檚 a symptom caused by different cardiovascular issues.

Having a big heart can be a good thing, when you鈥檙e talking about emotions, but when doctors talk about an enlarged heart, or cardiomegaly, it鈥檚 usually a sign that something else is going on with your ticker.

Hearts are often described as the size of a human , but suggests that sex, height, body weight and age play a part in determining what a 鈥渘ormal鈥� heart size is. If yours is bigger than it should be, your doctor might tell you that you have an enlarged heart. And unless you鈥檙e an athlete whose heart has gotten , an enlarged heart can indicate a problem.

鈥淭he heart is a sac,鈥� explains Fernando Fleischman, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with the 喵咪社区 Cardiac and Vascular Institute, part of 喵咪社区. 鈥淲hen the heart begins to fail, it isn鈥檛 able to push blood out. As a result, blood stagnates, and the heart gets bigger 鈥� similar to a balloon with too much fluid in it.鈥�

One symptom you might experience, if you have an enlarged heart, is when you exert yourself.

鈥淚f you decide to exercise, for example, you might find that you are short of breath,鈥� Dr. Fleischman says. 鈥淥r, you might not be able to get up and get to the bathroom without huffing and puffing.鈥�

You may also feel fatigued, dizzy or light-headed. You can have swelling in your legs, ankles, feet or abdomen, as well.

There are a number of health conditions that can cause an enlarged heart 鈥� these four are among the most common.

1. High blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, your heart has to . This extra work your heart is doing can cause the heart to . High blood pressure can lead to , where the heart鈥檚 left pumping chamber becomes thickened, weak and stiff, interfering with normal blood flow.

2. Heart valve problems

If the flaps that open and close the chambers of the heart aren鈥檛 functioning correctly, it can lead to an enlargement of the heart, according to Dr. Fleischman.

鈥淓very beat of the heart is supposed to eject a quantity of blood, but when the valve isn鈥檛 working properly, that doesn鈥檛 happen, and the blood that isn鈥檛 pumped out makes the heart get bigger,鈥� he says.

3. Heart disease

鈥�Heart disease can cause failure of the heart muscle by taking away its oxygen supply,鈥� Dr. Fleischman notes. 鈥淭his decreased oxygen supply means that the heart can鈥檛 beat, so it can鈥檛 push out blood, and the heart enlarges.鈥�

4. Cardiomyopathy

is a broad term used to describe diseases that can lead to a rigid, thick or . There are different types of cardiomyopathies, but one in particular, known as , is caused by .

Reducing your risk for coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and heart disease can help prevent your heart from becoming enlarged in the first place. Dr. Fleischman recommends eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking to reduce your risk.

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