What is usually enlarged during cardiomegaly?

During cardiomegaly, the heart is usually enlarged. This condition can occur due to various factors, including hypertension, valvular heart disease, or cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle becomes thickened or weakened. The enlargement of the heart can affect its ability to pump blood effectively, which may lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath or fatigue.

The increase in heart size is typically reflective of an underlying problem that has placed additional stress on the heart or resulted in changes to its structure. Understanding this aspect of cardiomegaly is important for medical scribes, as they may document findings related to the heart in various medical records and assist in monitoring the patient's condition over time.