What's wrong with the big heart shadow?

The cardiac shadow can usually be detected through X-rays. The cardiac shadow refers to the size of the heart being larger than normal. If the heart shadow appears too large, further examination is needed. Many elderly people have an enlarged heart, which is mainly due to cardiac hypertrophy caused by diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease. An enlarged heart shadow requires prompt treatment. So, what is the matter with the enlarged heart shadow?

Enlarged cardiac shadow generally refers to the X-ray showing that the heart display range is larger than the normal range. The specific method is that the maximum distances from the left and right heart edges to the midline of the body are T1 and T2 respectively, and T1+T2=transverse diameter of the heart. The ratio of the transverse diameter of the heart to the transverse diameter of the thorax (the inner diameter of the thorax at the level of the right diaphragm apex, Th) is the cardiothoracic ratio. 0.50 is the upper limit of the normal cardiothoracic ratio in adults, 0.51-0.55, 0.56-0.60 and above 0.60 are mild, moderate and severe heart enlargement, respectively. The heart-to-chest ratio is greatly affected by the position of the diaphragm, but because this method is simple and applicable to both adults and children, it is still the most commonly used heart measurement method at home and abroad.

The enlargement of the heart shadow is due to insufficient heart function. The heart proliferates and hypertrophies compensatorily to increase the blood supply. In the end, it still cannot meet the needs of the body and the heart fails to compensate. At this time, insufficient blood supply occurs and the enlarged heart shadow cannot be reduced. Insufficient blood supply can be alleviated by taking medicine and drug treatment, but the process of heart failure is irreversible. Condition analysis: Enlargement of the heart shadow is an imaging diagnosis. Generally, there are many reasons for enlargement of the heart shadow, such as obesity, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, etc. This must be eliminated through clinical examination one by one to finally determine the cause. In addition, some physiological enlargements, such as athletes or those engaged in heavy physical labor, will have a relatively enlarged heart shadow.

1. Lose weight. 2. Eat less salt and various pickled foods. The total amount of salt per day should not exceed 6 grams. 3. Supplement calcium and potassium, eat more fresh vegetables and milk. 4. Eat less high-fat foods. 5. Quit smoking; limit alcohol consumption to no more than one or two (50 grams) per day. 6. Increase exercise, which is conducive to weight loss. The best way is low to medium intensity. You can choose jogging or walking according to your age and physical condition.