Nokea
What is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened without an obvious cause, leading to a reduction in the heart's ability to pump blood?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this condition, the heart muscle becomes thickened, affecting the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently. This is due to genetic mutations causing the muscle cells to grow abnormally. This leads to poor relaxation and filling of the heart, impairing its pumping function.
B: Dilated cardiomyopathy involves the heart muscle becoming weak and stretched, leading to reduced pumping ability.
C: Restrictive cardiomyopathy involves the heart muscle becoming stiff and rigid, impairing its ability to fill with blood properly.
D: Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, typically caused by infections or autoimmune conditions, leading to temporary reduction in heart function.
Hence, the correct answer is A as it specifically describes the scenario of a thickened heart muscle without an obvious cause impacting the heart's pumping ability.