Enlargement of the Heart

Yesterday morning as i was home doing some image and video editing for the office (I'm a WOH guy) my friend's brother texted and called me saying my friend was rushed to the hospital and he's in intensive care unit. I called immediately thinking he had a road accident (he's a motorcycle taxi driver) but i was shocked to learn he had a heart attack! this friend of mine is young, he's just 33 years of age, i thought this can't be right. How can he have a heart attack when he just sits on his motorcycle ferrying passengers around the town. But since there's still no diagnosis why he had a heart attack, i returned to my work and tried finishing it so i can go and check on him later. it didn't take long before he's brother called again saying the doctors say that his brother had a heart enlargement and they are still contemplating on what to do, he's still in the ICU. How did he get it? i was asking myself, then i remember why whenever i saw him and have a chat or just sit around talking he's like dragging his breath or heaving difficulty breathing, his heart is having a hard time pumping blood to his system, i just thought maybe he's tired or the heat in the province is too much (it can be really hot in our province). While i was sitting in my room thinking about it, another friend called and suggested if we can raise fund for his medical expenses because we know income from driving a motorcycle taxi is not enough to cover his medical expenses (it's not even enough for his family's everyday expenses), i called and texted everyone i know about it and asked them to chip in some help. Then i went to Google and read about heart enlargement.
So after checking on the website of Mayo Clinic here's what I found about heart enlargement; An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) isn't a disease, but rather a sign of another condition. It's symptoms may include:
1. Shortness of breath, especially while lying flat
2.Waking up short of breath
3.Irregular heart rhythm
4.Swelling (edema) in the belly or in the legs
An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) can be caused by damage to the heart muscle or any condition that makes the heart pump harder than usual, including pregnancy. Sometimes the heart gets larger and becomes weak for unknown reasons. This condition is called idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
Conditions associated with an enlarged heart include:

1. Heart condition present at birth (congenital heart defect). Problems with the structure and function of the heart can cause the heart muscle to get larger and weak. (i think this is how my friend got his)
2. Damage from a heart attack. Scarring and other structural heart damage can make it harder for the heart to pump enough blood to the body. The strain can lead to heart swelling and eventual heart failure.
3. Diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). Cardiomyopathy often makes the heart rigid or thick. It can make it harder for the heart to pump blood.
4. Fluid buildup in the sac around the heart (pericardial effusion). A collection of fluid in the sac that contains the heart can cause heart enlargement that can be seen on a chest X-ray.
5. Heart valve disease. Four valves in the heart keep blood flowing in the right direction. Disease or damage to any of the valves may interrupt blood flow and cause the heart chambers to get larger.
6. High blood pressure (hypertension). If you have high blood pressure, the heart may have to pump harder to deliver blood to the rest of the body. The strain can cause the heart muscle to grow larger and become weak.
7. High blood pressure in the arteries in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). The heart has to work harder to move blood between the lungs and the heart. The strain may lead to thickening or enlargement of the right side of the heart.
8. Low red blood cell count (anemia). In anemia, there's a lack of healthy red blood cells to carry proper levels of oxygen to the body's tissues. The heart must pump more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood.
9. Thyroid disorders. Both an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can lead to heart problems, including an enlarged heart.
10. Too much iron in the body (hemochromatosis). Iron can build up in various organs, including the heart. This can cause the lower left heart chamber to swell. (how do you get too much iron in your body?)
11. Unusual protein deposits in the heart (cardiac amyloidosis). This rare disease causes a protein called amyloid to collect in the blood and get stuck in body organs, including the heart. Amyloid protein deposits in the heart cause an irreversible thickening of the heart wall. The heart has to work harder to fill with blood.
12. Aerobic exercise. In some athletes, the heart becomes enlarged as a response to frequent and prolonged exercise. Usually, this type of enlarged heart isn't considered a disease and doesn't need treatment. ( how prolong it did not say. honestly i didn't know exercise can kill you.)
13. Fat around the heart. Some people have extra fat around the heart that can appear on a chest X-ray. Unless there are other heart conditions associated, no treatment is necessary.

This is a lot of causes for heart enlargement, really explain why we really should take care of our heart. There are also advice on how to prevent it on the website but i'll not go on put it all here, only the important ones like,

• Monitor and manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
• Take any prescribed medications as directed.
• Eat a nutritious, balanced diet.
• Get regular exercise. (how regular and how many minutes it did not say, just keep in mind the No. 12 condition mentioned above)
• Avoid or limit alcohol (this one definitely)
• Don't smoke (this too)
• Don't use illegal drugs (this one should be on the top)

After reading and listing it all here, i hope you guys take care of your heart and remind your family and friend about it. And if you see any of your family or friend having difficulty in breathing suggest to him/her to have it look up by a doctor. You never know you might be saving their lives.
And if you want to help chip in to the fund raising we put up for my friend and if your from the Philippines, just send your help to this gcash number: 0927 121 7442, if not just send any amount of SOL to this address: 55RjgdACD3D66vqPrVczGLAkj5FuJHbUjyuavzBD8x3h
Any and all help will go to his medical and hospital bill.


Source
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-heart/symptoms-causes/syc-20355436