Auxocardia

/ˌɔːk.soʊˈkɑːr.di.ə/ noun

Definition

A medical condition involving abnormal enlargement of the heart due to increased functional demands or auxiliary cardiac issues.

Etymology

From 'auxo-' (increase) combined with 'cardia' (heart), derived from Greek 'kardia.' The term developed in cardiology to describe cardiac enlargement beyond normal compensatory hypertrophy.

Kelly Says

Auxocardia is what happens when your heart has to work overtime so much that it actually gets bigger—like how muscles grow from exercise, except in this case it can be dangerous. Doctors use this term to distinguish pathological enlargement from the normal athletic heart enlargement.

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