Faux Enlarged Heart

[Bon-Bon]

Is it possible for ones heart to appear enlarged but not be?  

A couple of years ago, my ekg at the ER reported that I had a bilateral enlargement along with alot of PVCs.  A few days later,  I went and had stress test with echo done by a cardiologist.  The cardiologist told me that I did not have an enlargement, that it was just the position my heart is lying in my chest wall cavity that makes it appear so.  Also, he added that tall, thin people's hearts can appear enlarged when; in fact, its not.  I'm not but 5'7" and 115 lbs.  

A couple weeks later, I saw an EP and without running any further testing, just another quick ekg like the one I had in the ER, he claimed that I do have an enlargement, winked at me and added; but, all smokers have this.

Therefore, I am left not knowing if my heart is indeed enlarged or not; and; if so, from what,  the PVC's I was experiencing, the smoking or, more likely from the combination?  I've also heard that athletic people can have enlargement of the heart, naturally.  I use to be a very atheletic person when I was younger.  

I cannot get an agreement from any of the four doctors I've seen regarding the matter.  None agree with the other.  It is expensive as you know esp.; if, I decided to get more doctor's opionions on the matter and they probably won't agree with one another either.  

[Bon-Bon]

Thank you heartfluttersflyawayplz.  

Yes.  Just recently, I came across some of the post that have mentioned that ekg's are not all that concrete, so to speak.

Your input is greatly appreciated.  Have a great day. :  )

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

yes i agree thats why they do echos to see the size of your heart and how its pumping , so i would feel safe that your heart is normal, ekg are wrong a lot i found that out.

[Bon-Bon]

Thank you Jerry_NJ for taking the time and answering my post.  What you stated, certainly helped me place my thoughts regarding this issue in the right perspective (after all this time, 2 yrs. to be exact).  

Thank you.  You have brought me to my right senses here; because, the echocardiogram does shows the voulume in each of the hearts chambers, wall thinckness and how well the valves are working.......why in the world would I have doubted the cardiologist who ran that test, standing right beside me, watching everything?  My goodness; if only, I had post this concern I was having on the forum much earlier.  Now, finally, I shall put this to rest.

Have a great day.    

[Jerry_NJ]

I'd take the opinion of the doctor who read you echocardiogram.  That is the closest thing going (the gold standard) to making a hands-on physical measurement.  I believe EKG readings are indicators, Echo is a measurement.  

I think you do not have an enlarged heart.  The Echocardiogram should in fact show the volume of each of you heart's four chambers, as well as wall thickness and how well the valves are working.  And EKG can't do any of this.