• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
• Arrhythmias
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy)
• Heart Block
• Heart Valve Problems
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Carotid Artery Stenosis (Stroke)
• Thick Heart Muscle HOCM
• Weak Heart Muscles – Heart Failure

Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy)

Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Lim offers Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) in her cardiology clinic at Singapore which  is about heart muscle disease. When your left ventricles or valve starts to enlarge, it causes the muscles to stretch and it affects your body, resulting in it not being able to pump enough blood efficiently. It builds fluids resulting in leg, ankle or abdominal swelling.

Causes of Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy):

Even if Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is idiopathic (no exact cause can be found), there are still other factors that should be considered.

• Heredity. If one or both of your parents have this kind of illness, there’s a 50% chance that you will inherit this too. Scientists don’t know exactly the reason for this, but they think that genetics play a big role in it.
• Auto-immune disease. This is when your body stops responding properly and starts attacking your healthy cells and organs.
• Toxins. Excessive intake of alcohol or drugs. Drugs usually used for treating cancer.
• Ailments such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or hepatitis
• Pregnancy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy develops during the last month of pregnancy or within three months from birth. 

Symptoms and Treatments for Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy):

Some people who are affected by dilated cardiomyopathy may show no symptoms at all, though there are some who may display a few symptoms and others may develop problems which may need more advanced treatments. 

Symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath.
• swelling of feet, ankles, and abdomen
• inability to lie down flat to sleep at night,
• tiredness
• palpitation

At this stage, there is no cure for an enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy). Nevertheless, there are medicines that can help in reducing the risk of the condition’s worsening. Some may use pacemakers as an alternative or if the situation is already too severe, heart transplant is another option.

Treatment is urgent. If you show signs of cardiomyopathy or believe that you are suffering from it, contact Heart Specialist (Interventional Cardiologist) Dr Lim Ing Haan Cardiology Clinic immediately today for an accurate diagnosis.