Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) Practice Test 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by the thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the ventricular walls. This enlargement of the heart muscle can lead to a variety of complications, including difficulties in filling the heart with blood due to reduced chamber size and potential obstruction of blood flow during contraction.

The primary feature of HCM is the hypertrophy of the myocardial tissue, which can affect the heart's ability to pump efficiently. The thickened wall may lead to reduced chamber volume and can impede normal heart function, but the key aspect here is the enlargement of the muscle itself.

While HCM might have effects that could influence blood pumping efficiency or heart rate, the fundamental and defining change in this condition is the enlargement of the heart muscle. Therefore, the correct answer highlights this essential characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.