Cardiomegaly, which is commonly referred to as heart swelling, is a condition caused by overfunctioning of the heart due to disease. The seriousness of the swelling of the heart depends on the cause and symptoms. Therefore, the patient should treat the underlying cause and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. If symptoms persist despite trying natural remedies, you should seek medical help.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Changing Diet
Step 1. Add vitamin B1 in your daily diet
Thiamine, commonly called vitamin B1, plays an important role in nerve function. Thiamine deficiency will cause cardiovascular and nervous system problems. Beriberi, a condition caused by a thiamine deficiency, can result in heart swelling, edema, and heart failure. Therefore, vitamin B1 must be included in the diet to keep the heart healthy. Examples of foods rich in vitamin B1 are:
- Legumes
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Breakfast cereal
- Brussels sprouts
- Nuts
- Lentils
- Lean meat
Step 2. Eat potassium-rich foods
Potassium plays a role in the maintenance of heart health. Potassium helps regulate heart rate and contraction of the heart muscles. If you have high blood pressure, a condition that can cause an enlarged heart, you should increase your potassium intake. Examples of foods rich in potassium are:
- Tomatoes
- Potato
- Banana
- Dried fruit
- Spinach
Step 3. Reduce sodium intake
As one of the main causes of heart swelling, edema can occur due to excess sodium in the blood. Excess sodium can cause breathing problems and make the heart work harder. Try to eat home-cooked meals as it will be easier for you to track the amount of sodium you eat at home than at a restaurant. Examples of low-sodium foods are:
- Milk
- Corn
- Fresh meat
- Egg
- Cream cheese
- Dried fruit
Step 4. Limit fat intake
Blood cholesterol levels can rise when you eat a lot of fat. In addition, excess fat is one of the main causes of obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, all of which contribute to heart swelling. Limit fat consumption to 5 to 8 teaspoons daily. Examples of fatty foods to avoid are:
- All fried foods, especially those that use a lot of oil.
- Fast food
- Packaged food
- Pork fat and butter
Step 5. Put turmeric in food
Turmeric can help prevent heart failure. This one spice can also reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and at the same time increase good cholesterol levels. Turmeric contains other ingredients that can fight heart disease, namely polyphenols. Polyphenols can help prevent and treat heart swelling.
- Take tsp. black pepper and grind. Add tsp. turmeric powder on ground black pepper and mix well. You can consume it three times a day.
- You can also add turmeric to cooking.
Step 6. Eat raw garlic every day
Allicin contained in garlic can lower blood pressure. When blood flow is smoother, the heart is more likely to return to its normal size. Allicin also helps prevent the production of bad cholesterol and helps the formation of good cholesterol, which in turn will improve heart health.
- Eat two raw garlic cloves in a day. Also add garlic to the dish.
- If you don't like the taste of raw garlic, you can opt for garlic supplements.
Step 7. Drink lots of green tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help increase good cholesterol, prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol, and help artery function. Therefore, green tea can help fight heart problems.
Add tsp. green tea leaves into boiling water. Turn off the stove and let the tea sit for 3 minutes before filtering and drinking. Drink three cups every day
Step 8. Increase consumption of asparagus
Asparagus is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. This natural diuretic does not contain fat or cholesterol. Asparagus also does not contain sodium which can cause edema. This one food can strengthen the heart muscles. Asparagus contains glutathione, which improves the body's defense system and helps lower blood pressure, and therefore helps with heart swelling.
You can eat asparagus or drink asparagus juice. To make the juice taste better, you can add honey
Step 9. Increase consumption of chili
Chilies are rich in vitamin C which is essential for collagen synthesis. As a structural protein, collagen helps maintain the integrity of internal organs, blood vessels, skin, and bones. Chili also contains selenium, an antioxidant that can help the heart work.
Add tsp. chili powder into 1 cup of water and stir. Drink two cups a day
Method 2 of 3: Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Quit smoking
Chemicals in tobacco damage blood cells and affect the function of the heart and blood vessels. This damage results in atherosclerosis, which is thickening of the arteries by plaque buildup. The longer the plaque hardens and narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow to the body's organs.
Step 2. Reduce alcohol consumption
Alcohol can increase blood pressure so excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of heart problems such as swelling.
If you're having trouble fighting the urge to drink, talk to your doctor about a control program you can follow
Step 3. Talk about the daily exercise you need with your doctor
Given the condition of your heart, talk to your doctor first before changing your exercise program. If you get the green light to exercise, try a short session each day. Exercise can make the body stronger and healthier.
Exercise is especially important if you are overweight because obesity can cause an enlarged heart
Step 4. Lose excess weight
Obesity can cause swelling of the heart. Excess body weight will thicken the heart muscle in the left ventricle. This condition can cause various heart problems. To lose weight, you must adopt a healthy diet and exercise.
- For information on how to stay in shape, click here.
- For information on how to structure a diet, click here.
Step 5. Reduce stress
When stressed, the body will also be seriously affected. If you are recovering from an enlarged heart, try to avoid all forms of stress. Stress here includes mental and emotional stress. To reduce stress, try:
- Apply breathing techniques.
- Yoga.
- Meditation.
Method 3 of 3: Identifying and Treating Swelling of the Heart
Step 1. Know what causes heart swelling
Swelling of the heart can occur due to the following causes:
- High blood pressure makes the heart work harder. To accommodate the extra work, the heart muscles become stiffer and thicker, which then results in swelling.
- A history of heart attacks that make the heart weaker.
- Family history of heart failure.
- Cardiac conditions, such as valve damage that puts pressure on the heart, causing swelling.
- Anemia can cause swelling of the heart because people with anemia do not have enough blood cells to carry oxygen to body tissues.
- Thyroid disease can lead to a variety of heart problems, including swelling.
Step 2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of an enlarged heart
The most common symptom is an intolerance to exercise. You may find it difficult to breathe during moderate exercise and strenuous activity. It is caused by stiffness in the walls of the left ventricle and reduced oxygen circulation. Other symptoms are:
- Mild chest pain and fainting.
- Fatigue after exertion.
- Difficulty breathing when lying down.
- Swelling in the lower extremities due to fluid and electrolyte imbalance, as well as fluid retention.
- Fast and irregular heartbeat. The increased work of the heart makes the pulse compensate by beating more than 100 beats per minute.
- The above signs and symptoms develop gradually in some people. In some patients, the left ventricle dilates for months or even years before symptoms develop. There are also some patients who show symptoms after recovering from a viral infection.
Step 3. Realize that you need medical care and treatment if symptoms persist
If symptoms such as breathing problems, fast and irregular heartbeat, and dizziness persist despite your efforts to deal with them naturally, you should seek professional medical help. Common treatments for heart swelling are:
- Diuretics to reduce fluid volume and edema. The drug that is usually prescribed is Spironolactone 25 to 50 mg daily.
- ACE Inhibitors to reduce peripheral vascular resistance. The drug that is usually prescribed is Lisinopril 20 mg tablets daily.
- Digitalis to increase myocardial and cardiac contractility. The drug that is usually prescribed is Digoxin 0.25 mg tablets daily for 1 week.
Tips
- Limit meat intake to as much as 150 grams of lean meat, fish, and skinless poultry.
- Eat five to six servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
- Increase your fiber intake by eating 6 or more servings of cereal per day.
- Limit egg yolks to three to four eggs each week, including egg yolks in cakes and breads.
- Avoid dehydration.
