What is cardiac hypertrophy?

Cardiac hypertrophy refers specifically to the thickening of the heart muscle, which occurs as an adaptive response to various conditions, including increased workload or pressure overload. When the heart is subjected to stresses such as hypertension or aortic stenosis, the muscle fibers (myocytes) grow larger in size to cope with the increased demand for blood pumping. This thickening is not simply about size; it can affect how well the heart functions.

While cardiac hypertrophy may lead to other complications, such as heart failure or decreased efficiency in pumping, the defining characteristic is the actual thickening of the myocardium. It’s a critical concept in cardiovascular health because while it initially serves to enhance the heart's ability to pump against higher pressures, over time it can also lead to problems if the underlying stressors are not addressed. The other options represent different aspects of cardiac structure and function that are not synonymous with cardiac hypertrophy.