What is a rotated heart?
Other Qs & As
After having a heart attack, my mother's been told that she's got a rotated heart.
We can't find any information on this condition.
Can you help explain what it is?
A rotated heart doesn't sound pleasant, but it's not as bad as it seems.
It's probably just a reference to the direction of the long axis of your mother's heart in relation to the rest of her body (axis deviation).
This is estimated on a recording of the heart's electrical activity known as an ECG (electrocardiogram). Sometimes it's apparent on a chest X-ray too.
The heart varies in axis between individuals and can appear rotated left or right, within certain limits, and still be regarded as normal.
This is because of the normal anatomical differences that exist between people.
But sometimes the axis deviation reflects an oversized pumping chamber on the side to which the heart is rotated.
In general it's not the rotation itself that's so significant but the underlying cause.
It can result from high blood pressure (hypertension), heart valve or lung problems.
The commonest cause of significant left axis deviation (LAD) is a bulky heart muscle because of hypertension.
It's a sign that the blood pressure needs strict control to a target of less than 140/85.
If you mother has recently seen a specialist because of her heart attack (myocardial infarction), it's likely all these things have been considered, and either don't apply or are being treated appropriately.
The NetDoctor Medical Team