In order for the heart to fulfill its pumping function and to pump blood through the arteries of the whole body unhindered, all heart structures must work smoothly and smoothly. But even this important organ is not immune from diseases, and if pathological processes arise in it, it seeks to compensate for the arising violations.
An increase in the left atrium is called hypertrophy in medicine . This occurs due to the growth of the myocardium, which acts as the muscle layer of this cardiac chamber. This phenomenon is a symptom of vascular diseases, due to which there is a more intense load on the left atrium. Pathology is detected by echocardiography. If a person has an enlargement of the left atrium, then the disease that caused him must be treated immediately. This is done exclusively by a cardiologist. In the event that it is possible to completely get rid of the underlying pathology, further hypertrophy can be prevented along with the complications associated with it.
Causes of left atrial enlargement
Sometimes hypertrophy is associated with excessive physical exertion. When this phenomenon does not cause unpleasant symptoms and does not affect the general quality of blood circulation, no therapeutic measures are taken. But athletes with an enlarged heart are recommended to undergo preventive examinations more often, at least once every six months. In the event that it turns out that the deviation is rapidly progressing, the patient may be suspended from professional sports. But mainly an increase in the left atrium occurs due to the following cardiological diseases:
- Against the background of mitral valve stenosis. With this pathology, as a rule, it does not open, as it should be, but its lumen itself is narrowed in the open state.
- The presence of mitral valve insufficiency. However, it does not close until the end. The hole may remain closed.
- The development of aortic valve stenosis.
- The appearance of coarctation of the aorta. In this case, we are talking about congenital malformation of the vessel, when there is a narrowing of the lumen in its small area.
- The development of chronic hypertension, that is, high blood pressure.
- The appearance of chronic kidney pathologies that cause hypertension.
- The development of chronic lung disease.
Among other things, an increase in all heart chambers, and the left atrium, including, is possible in the presence of obesity.
Characteristic symptoms
By itself, an increase in the left atrium often does not affect the patient’s general well-being. In other situations, the manifestation of this condition may be atrial extrasystoles, which are manifested, in particular, by a sensation of a malfunction in the heart.
In advanced cases of the disease, when the left atrium can no longer cope with its load, an increase in pressure occurs in the pulmonary vein system. In addition, manifestations of heart failure in the pulmonary circulation may occur. Her symptoms are shortness of breath with light exertion and when lying down, especially at night. Symptoms of stagnation in the pulmonary circulation are hemoptysis, which is very characteristic of mitral stenosis. Patients have reduced exercise tolerance.
Diseases that caused an increase in this atrium can provoke other symptoms. We are talking about increased pressure, pain behind the sternum, swelling of the legs and so on.
Possible complications
An increase in the atrium of the left ventricle can cause:
- The development of severe heart failure.
- The occurrence of interstitial pulmonary edema (i.e., cardiac asthma).
- The development of alveolar pulmonary edema.
- The appearance of arrhythmias (such as, for example, atrial fibrillation).
These are very dangerous pathologies.
Diagnostics
It is possible to detect that the patient has increased left atrium thanks to the following methods:
- Auscultation, that is, listening to the heart with a special stethoscope. With hypertrophy of this atrium, noise occurs.
- Radiography of the chest, allowing you to see the general shape and size of the heart.
- Conducting electrocardiography. It is worth noting that on the ECG, an increase in the left atrium is manifested by an enlarged half of the tooth.
- Ultrasound examination of the heart. Using this technique, you can accurately say how much the left atrium is enlarged. According to the standard, the dimensions of this camera are from 2.3 to 3.7 centimeters. High rates may indicate hypertrophy. Using the same technique, it is possible to identify the causes of atrial enlargement.
- Echocardiography can diagnose valve and aortic malformations.
The following is material on treatment methods.
Therapies
What is the treatment for left atrial enlargement? Any efforts to combat the disease are aimed primarily at eliminating the causes that caused it. For example, in the event of disturbances due to pathology of the respiratory system, the course of therapy is aimed at compensating for pulmonary functions. An anti-inflammatory treatment is prescribed. Bronchodilating drugs and a number of other medicines can be used, depending on the underlying causes.
In the case of damage to the left departments caused by arterial hypertension, therapy is supposed only in the form of taking antihypertensive drugs of various groups, and, in addition, diuretics. When a pronounced valve defect is detected, doctors can resort to surgery and even prosthetics.
Symptom Management
The therapy of right and left ventricular hypertrophy in all variations of the disease includes, first of all, elimination of the symptoms of myocardial damage. For these purposes, antiarrhythmic therapy is used along with cardiac glycosides. It is possible that the appointment of drugs that improve metabolic processes in the heart muscle, for example, Riboxin. Patients are advised to adhere to a special diet, limiting the use of fluids and salt. In the presence of obesity, efforts are directed towards normalizing total body weight.
An increase in the left atrium is an indispensable sign of cardiovascular disease, because of which a more intense load falls on this site.
With congenital heart defects
With congenital heart defects, the pathology is removed surgically when possible. In very advanced cases, when the structure of the organ is severely disturbed and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs, the only way out of this situation is a heart transplant. Thus, from the above it follows that the approach to patients is carried out purely individually. Doctors take into account any manifestation of violations in the functioning of organs, along with the general condition of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases.
It is worth noting that the timely detected myocardial deviation in the vast majority of situations can be corrected. Having felt the first alarming symptoms, you must immediately consult a specialist for advice, that is, a cardiologist. After the examination, the cause of the disease will be identified and the doctor will prescribe adequate therapy. Now we find out what prevention should be carried out.
Prevention
In order to avoid a possible increase in the left atrium, you must try to adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle and regularly carry out a medical examination (at least once every two years). Special attention should be paid to prevention if one of the direct relatives had hypertrophy of this atrium or other chambers of the heart.
It is worth noting that the tendency to increase myocardium can be inherited. When a person is at risk, he must observe the following rules:
- Do not choose a job that is associated with hard physical labor.
- Do not be subjected to excessive sports load.
- Exercise within reasonable limits.
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Adhere to a diet, that is, consume less salt in order not to provoke swelling with increased pressure. It is necessary to consume less fat, sweet and starchy foods, so as not to gain excess weight.
- It is important to avoid stress.
- With stress, sedatives are immediately required to be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
The use of folk remedies
Also, in the framework of prevention, folk remedies can be used that have a strengthening effect on the cardiac and vascular system, for example, hawthorn along with cinnamon, motherwort, and St. John's wort. Before using them, you need to consult a doctor, since herbs also have certain contraindications.
What is it - an increase in the cavity of the left atrium, is now clear. Next, consider the reviews and find out what doctors and patients write about this disease.
Reviews
People in reviews of this pathology write that if an increase in this chamber is detected at an early stage, then you can soon recover and the prognosis will be favorable. Specialists, in turn, note that the timely prescribed antihypertensive treatment or surgery aimed at correcting heart defects gives positive results, and the disease does not bother the person anymore.
Unpleasant symptoms in this case disappear, the risks of complications disappear, and the myocardium, in turn, no longer grows. And also doctors in the reviews warn that in the later stages it can be completely impossible to get rid of the pathology. In this regard, it is very important to visit such a specialist as a cardiologist for a routine examination on time.
Finally
Thus, an increase in the left atrium of the heart occurs due to muscle damage, as well as due to disturbances in blood flow. Often this happens with congenital malformations, against the background of increased pressure, pathologies of the lungs, significant physical exertion, and so on. Most often, doctors ascertain exactly left ventricular hypertrophy. This is due to the large functional loads in this area. As in the case of other diseases, in this situation it is very important to identify the violation on time in order to carry out the necessary treatment. We examined the causes and treatment of left atrial enlargement.