Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) Practice Test

Valve defects in the heart can lead to several physiological changes and complications, making it essential to understand the consequences of such conditions.

The correct option encompasses all the potential complications associated with valve defects. First, regurgitation of blood occurs when valves do not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward instead of forward. This can create additional workload on the heart and lead to inefficient circulation.

Additionally, valve defects can cause thickening of the heart muscles, a condition known as hypertrophy, as the heart compensates for the altered blood flow dynamics. This adaptation occurs to help maintain effective pumping despite the presence of valve dysfunction.

Furthermore, incomplete contraction can result from the disruption in the normal cycle of heart function. If the valves do not operate correctly, the heart cannot fully eject blood from the chambers during contraction, impairing overall cardiac efficiency.

Thus, valve defects can contribute to all these issues—regurgitation of blood, thickening of heart muscles, and incomplete contraction—highlighting their significant impact on cardiac health.