- How to relieve the main symptoms of cardiomegaly
- 1. Difficulty breathing
- 2. Swelling of the legs
- 3. Palpitations and arrhythmia
Symptoms of a big heart, also known as cardiomegaly, are related to the dilation of the heart muscle, which causes blood to accumulate inside the heart, in the veins and in the lungs, causing symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing, which gets worse over time; Swelling of the legs during the day; Palpitations or arrhythmia.
Generally, cardiomegaly is a consequence of another disease, such as heart failure or high blood pressure, and therefore, to eliminate all your symptoms it is very important to consult a cardiologist to start the appropriate treatment for each case, which may include medication, changes in lifestyle or surgery.
How to relieve the main symptoms of cardiomegaly
1. Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cardiomegaly because the blood accumulating near the lungs causes the liquid to enter the pulmonary alveoli, producing a sensation of shortness of breath, especially when exercising.
To alleviate the feeling of shortness of breath one should always take the drugs prescribed by the cardiologist, especially diuretics such as Furosemide or Spironolactone, as they help to eliminate excess fluids in the urine, preventing them from entering the lungs. In addition, it is important to:
- Avoid eating foods rich in salt, such as sausages, ready meals or snacks: these foods promote the accumulation of fluids, even when taking medication; Doing light physical exercise regularly, such as walking or water aerobics: since it is released by the doctor, physical exercise is a great way to keep the blood circulating, avoiding its accumulation in the lungs; Sleeping with the head of the bed slightly elevated: in addition to avoiding the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, it reduces the pressure inside the chest, facilitating the work of the breathing muscles;
In addition, in some cases, the doctor may also recommend doing respiratory physiotherapy which consists of a set of exercises guided by the physiotherapist that helps keep the airways more open, facilitating breathing and relieving the feeling of shortness of breath.
2. Swelling of the legs
The swelling in the legs happens due to the accumulation of blood in the veins that causes the liquid present in the blood to escape to the tissues, causing an exaggerated swelling. This swelling happens mainly in the legs because it is more difficult for the blood to return to the heart, however, it can happen anywhere in the body.
Thus, to reduce swelling in the legs it is advised:
- Do not stay in the same position for more than 30 minutes: standing for a long time or sitting, for example, facilitates the accumulation of blood in the legs because the veins have more difficulty in sending blood to the heart; Elevating legs at the end of the day for 20 minutes, resting your feet on a pillow: helps the veins in your legs to send blood back to the heart; Give preference to diuretic foods, such as watercress, spinach or melon: they help increase the amount of urine and, therefore, promote the elimination of excess fluids; See a more complete list: Diuretic foods. Take the medicines prescribed by the cardiologist, such as Digoxin or antihypertensive drugs: they help the heart to work harder, allowing the blood to be pumped more easily and preventing it from accumulating in the legs.
Another technique that can be used to relieve swelling of the legs quickly is to have a lymphatic drainage massage. Here's how to do it: Lymphatic drainage.
3. Palpitations and arrhythmia
Palpitations and arrhythmias are more rare symptoms of cardiomegaly that happen due to the lack of strength of the cardiac muscle to contract, making it necessary to beat more often to supply enough oxygen, for example.
Generally, when the patient has palpitations or arrhythmia, he should consult the cardiologist to start treatment with specific remedies for the problem, such as Amiodarone or Adenosine, which help the heart to beat at a normal pace.
In addition to medication, it is also important to exercise lightly, avoid excess stress and not consume substances that can increase the work of the heart muscle, such as coffee, cigarettes or alcohol.
