Is the heart on the left or right side?

The heart is normally located in the center of the anterior chest wall, slightly to the left—not entirely on the left side nor entirely on the right side—this slight leftward deviation is considered normal. Exceptions do exist, such as congenital dextrocardia, where the heart is predominantly positioned on the right side (though not exclusively so—it is shifted more toward the right). Other conditions may also cause cardiac displacement or rotation—for instance, primary cardiomyopathies or cardiac enlargement. This is especially common in patients with cor pulmonale or pulmonary embolism. Additionally, patients with congenital pulmonary hypertension may develop marked right ventricular enlargement, which can likewise lead to altered cardiac positioning.