What does it mean when the right side of your heart is bigger than the left?
When the right side of your heart becomes enlarged, it typically means your right ventricle has been working harder than normal to pump blood to your lungs. This extra effort over time causes the muscle to stretch and weaken, which can lead to Show Full Answer
What does it mean when the right side of your heart is bigger than the left?
When the right side of your heart becomes enlarged, it typically means your right ventricle has been working harder than normal to pump blood to your lungs. This extra effort over time causes the muscle to stretch and weaken, which can lead to right-sided heart failure.
The right ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygen-poor blood from your heart to your lungs. When it has to work harder than it should, the muscle compensates by enlarging, similar to how other muscles grow when overworked. What causes the right side of the heart to enlarge?
Pulmonary hypertension is one of the main causes of right-sided heart enlargement. When you have PH, the blood vessels in your lungs become blocked or narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow through. This increased resistance forces your right ventricle to pump harder, which weakens it over time.
Other conditions that can cause this include:
* Congenital heart diseases
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* Obstructive sleep apnea
* Blood clots in the lungs
* Interstitial lung disease
* Left-sided heart failure
Your doctor will likely order additional tests like an echocardiogram, chest X-ray, or right heart catheterization to determine the exact cause and develop a treatment plan tailored to your situation.
April 2
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