enlarged heart
Definition
Noun: * An abnormal enlargement of the heart: A medical condition where the heart is larger than its normal size. This is not a disease itself but a sign of an underlying heart problem. The medical term for this condition is cardiomegaly.
Usage
- The term "enlarged heart" is used to describe a physical finding, typically identified through imaging tests like a chest X-ray or echocardiogram.
- It is a general descriptor for the condition of cardiomegaly.
Examples
- The chest X-ray revealed an enlarged heart, prompting further cardiac tests.
- An enlarged heart can be caused by conditions like high blood pressure or heart valve disease.
- The doctor explained that the athlete's enlarged heart was likely a physiological adaptation to intense training.
Advanced Usage
- Differential Usage: While "enlarged heart" and "cardiomegaly" are often used interchangeably in general contexts, in precise medical terminology, "cardiomegaly" is the preferred term. "Enlarged heart" is the layperson's or descriptive term.
- Contextual Nuance: The phrase can describe both a pathological condition (a sign of disease) and, in specific contexts like athletes, a potentially benign physiological adaptation.
Variants and Related Words
- Cardiomegaly (n): The medical term for an enlarged heart.
- Cardiac enlargement (n): A more formal or clinical way to describe the condition.
- Megacardia (n): A less common synonym for cardiomegaly.
Synonyms
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiac enlargement
Antonyms
- Normal-sized heart
- (There is no direct single-word antonym; it is described as the absence of enlargement.)
Related Phrases / Collocations
- To have an enlarged heart: The common phrasing to indicate someone is diagnosed with the condition.
- He was diagnosed as having an enlarged heart.
- Causes of an enlarged heart: A common phrase when discussing etiology.
- Symptoms of an enlarged heart: A common phrase when discussing clinical presentation.
Noun
-
an abnormal enlargement of the heart
-
mild cardiomegaly is common in athletes
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