Special Egekent Hospital Cardiology Specialist Dr. Fatih Çam made important statements regarding heart enlargement, saying, “If heart enlargement is not treated, its final destination will inevitably be heart failure. Once heart failure develops, it leads to severe shortness of breath and a process that can result in death.”
Known in medical literature as cardiomegaly, heart enlargement is recognized as a very serious heart condition. This heart disease occurs with the thickening of the heart wall or the dilation of the heart chambers. Special Egekent Hospital Cardiology Specialist Dr. Fatih Çam provided information about heart enlargement, pointing out that the most common cause is hypertension. He stated, “Heart enlargement occurs in two ways. One is when the heart grows in mass and weight, and the other is when the heart expands and thins. The most common cause of heart enlargement is hypertension. In hypertension, there is a significant increase in the pressure inside the heart. In response to this pressure, the heart thickens and enlarges as a reaction. Due to hypertension, valve diseases, and vascular diseases, the heart can expand and enlarge.”
“Heart failure treatment can be considered a long marathon”
Explaining how the treatment process of heart enlargement proceeds, Cardiology Specialist Dr. Fatih Çam said, “Heart failure treatment can be considered a long marathon. Because we are not dealing with something like a cold or flu. We do not expect it to improve with a week of medication. In hypertension, heart valve, and heart vessel diseases, this treatment process must continue for a long time, essentially for the rest of the patient’s life. Both medication and surgery are necessary to resolve this.”
“If we do not treat hypertension, the heart will enlarge”
Addressing what untreated heart enlargement can lead to, Dr. Fatih Çam said, “If heart enlargement is not treated, it will inevitably end in heart failure. If we do not treat hypertension, the heart enlarges. After a certain period, it expands, and heart failure occurs. If we do not intervene with medication or valve surgery for valve problems, the issue in the valve will enlarge the heart and as it progresses, it will cause severe heart failure. The same applies to heart vessel problems. If the patient continuously suffers heart attacks, the heart will be constantly damaged, and this will indirectly cause the heart to expand, resulting in heart failure. Once heart failure develops, it leads to severe shortness of breath and a process that can end in death.”