weightlifting - enlarged heart (left or right ventricular hypertrophy?)

Hi,

I have Thalassemia Intermediate, with an average hemoglobin level of about 10, no transfusions so far, and I have been weightlifting for 3 years.

I really enjoy pushing my body to the limit through weightlifting in order to enlarge my muscles.

Unfortunately, over the course of the 3 years, along with my muscles growing my heart has grown too!

Every time I visit the cardiologist he insists that I stop pushing my body with the intensity I have done so far. He suggests scaling down the weight  I lift and try lifting lower weights with higher repetitions.

Unfortunately, this has not yielded the results I desire.

I am looking for any sort of advise on how to balance heavy exercise and muscle growth with a healthy heart.

I definitely do not want weightlifting to cause any short-term or long-term heart issues as my cardiologist suggests (if my heart grows to big I  will have to transfuse, or something along those lines)will  happen if I continue at this rate.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Two questions. Have you ever had an MRI of your heart to check the iron load? And are you taking any supplements, especially L-carnitine?

I did, the MRI results were satisfactory! I do not take L-carnitine. Just the usual vitamins (folic acid, vitamin E etc.) I also recently started taking zinc supplements and wheatgrass.