Cardiomegaly is commonly associated with which conditions?

Cardiomegaly is commonly associated with which conditions?

• A. Diabetes mellitus
• B. High blood pressure
• C. Coronary heart disease
• D. High blood pressure or coronary heart disease

Answer: (D)

Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, happens when the heart is under chronic stress and has to work harder over a long period. Long-standing high blood pressure forces the heart to pump against greater resistance, causing the muscle to thicken and the overall size of the heart to increase. Coronary heart disease can also lead to heart muscle weakening or remodeling, which can result in dilation and enlargement of the heart chambers. Diabetes raises the risk of coronary disease but isn’t a direct primary cause of an enlarged heart by itself, so the most typical associations are high blood pressure or coronary heart disease.

Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, happens when the heart is under chronic stress and has to work harder over a long period. Long-standing high blood pressure forces the heart to pump against greater resistance, causing the muscle to thicken and the overall size of the heart to increase. Coronary heart disease can also lead to heart muscle weakening or remodeling, which can result in dilation and enlargement of the heart chambers. Diabetes raises the risk of coronary disease but isn’t a direct primary cause of an enlarged heart by itself, so the most typical associations are high blood pressure or coronary heart disease.