Borderline Cardiomegaly Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Borderline cardiomegaly is a disease which leads to enlargement of the heart. The condition can be mild or serious. Mild cases are often solved using simple medication or other lifestyle interventions. More severe cases need thorough treatment as they can be fatal. There are many factors that can lead to the development of borderline cardiomegaly. These include underlying illnesses, excessive consumption of alcohol, inflammation of heart muscles, nutritional deficiencies and infiltration of the heart muscles with foreign material. Women who develop complications immediately after giving birth can also suffer from borderline cardiomegaly. In some cases, it is inherited and yet for others, it comes as a result of genetic disorders.

Symptoms of borderline cardiomegaly differ in different people, depending on the seriousness of the condition. In most cases, patients will experience pain in the chest, general weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulties in breathing especially when they perform a heavy task, irregular heart beats and improper pumping of the heart. In some cases, the condition can deteriorate to complete heart failure. Some of the symptoms pointing to a more serious case are swelling of the legs, congestion in the chest, lungs and liver, retention of excess fluid in the body. Body parts where excess fluid is retained will tend to be distended.

Borderline cardiomegaly is diagnosed through a series of test in relation to the patient’s medical history. Physical examinations, X-rays, measurement of the heart function, flow and heart muscle biopsy enable doctors to identify borderline cardiomegaly correctly. Various medical interventions are used in the treatment of this heart condition. By treating any underlying conditions that may be the cause of this disease, it is possible to eliminate the condition. In cases where there are complications, surgery may be the most efficient mode of treatment. In other cases where symptoms occur, medical interventions are provided respectively. Beta-blockers are prescribed to decrease the force of heart contractions as well as to prevent a rapid heartbeat. Irregular heart-beats are also corrected using antirrhythmic drugs. There are drugs used to enhance the heart muscles. Examples of these are digitalis and digoxin, which are given either orally or by injection. These drugs increase the level of calcium in the heart, which is then used to initiate contractions. Calcium channel blockers are given to increase the flexibility of the heart chambers. Some patients require only one specific medication but others may need a combination of different doses.