Large Heart and Big

Enlarged Cardiac Muscle

In most instances, an enlargement of cardiac muscles produces detrimental effects in the person in which such an occurrence takes place. Depending on how large the muscles and the heart actually gets, the noxious nature of those effects increase. For instance, it is possible to still have the heart function normally and pump blood with a degree of efficacy with minimal or even nominal enlargement of the heart muscles. However, when that enlargement becomes too strong, there are a host of detrimental conditions that take place.

There are many different undesirable results that an enlarged heart can produce. For instance, it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and various forms of heart failure. Still, there is not a direct correlation between enlarged hearts and these maladies for the simple fact that in most instances, enlarged hearts are produced by some other undesirable conditions such as high blood pressure. In particular, high blood pressure is responsible for a condition referred to as left ventricular hypertrophy, which can cause a strain on pumping blood and make it more difficult for the heart to do so.

Perhaps the most convincing evidence about the deleterious effects of enlarged heart muscles is found in research and treatment that has been successful at reducing the size of such muscles. Even when doing so, however, many patients have high blood pressure which is responsible for their enlarged hearts. There is evidence that exists that suggests that reducing the size of one's heart (when that patient has an enlarged heart) can actually decrease their risk for getting some of the aforementioned noxious heart conditions. This fact indicates that there is although the direct link between an enlarged heart and stroke, heart failure and heart attacks is not necessarily known, there is still a relationship between enlarged heart muscles and negative health conditions.

Essentially, the negative impact that large cardiac muscles have on the human body is mostly based on the fact that such a condition creates a situation in which it is difficult for the heart to pump blood. In fact, there are other reasons that can attribute to an enlarged heart other than simply high blood pressure. Still, it is significant that most of those other reasons can frequently involve situations in which high blood pressure does exist. Any type of blockage within the heart can attribute to enlarged heart muscles; one of the frequent reasons for such blockage is coronary artery disease. Additionally, maladies such as HIV and kidney dialysis also can contribute to an enlarged heart, whereas certain recreational drug usage (including cocaine) can produce such an effect as well. Chronic abuse of alcohol has also resulted in enlarged heart muscles.