Athletic Training Practice Exam

A patient who ignores his or her diagnosis of cardiac hypertrophy and continues to exercise at an intense level risks which of the following?

1. Common cordis

2. Pulmonary hypertension

3. A fatal cardiac event

4. Aortic rupture

The correct answer is: A fatal cardiac event

The situation described involves a patient who has cardiac hypertrophy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes enlarged, often as a result of intense exercise or high blood pressure. If this individual ignores the diagnosis and continues exercising at high levels, one significant risk they face is the potential for a fatal cardiac event. Cardiac hypertrophy can lead to various complications, including arrhythmias, heart failure, and even sudden cardiac arrest. The strain that continued intense physical activity places on an already compromised heart can exacerbate these complications, increasing the likelihood of a serious or fatal incident. While other options, such as common cordis or aortic rupture, relate to different cardiac conditions or mechanisms, they do not specifically reflect the direct implications of ignoring cardiac hypertrophy in the context of ongoing intense exercise. The focus here is on the immediate and life-threatening risks presented by the combination of the existing cardiac condition and the stress of high-intensity exercise, making the risk of a fatal cardiac event the most pertinent concern in this scenario.