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With the
exception of exercise-induced enlargement, all forms of cardiac enlargement are
abnormal and associated with further problems, including , and an increased risk
of angina and heart attack. Heart failure results because
thickened or dilated heart muscle cannot function effectively as a pump. The
diseased muscle cells in both types of enlargement are also capable of causing
irregular heart rhythms that can lead to passing-out or sudden death. Because
the processes which cause hypertrophy typically do not increase the amount of
heart blood vessels to match the thickened heart muscle, the consequences of
decreased blood flow to the heart, angina and heart attack, are more common. All
of this contributes to an increased risk of death and decreased quality of life
for most of those with cardiac enlargement. Treatments are available to help
most of these problems.
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