NACC MRMC Practice Exam

Increased afterload refers to the higher resistance or pressure that the heart must work against to eject blood during systole (contraction). This condition typically arises due to factors such as hypertension or increased vascular resistance. When afterload increases, the heart must generate greater force to overcome this resistance, leading to an increase in cardiac workload.

As a result, the heart muscle requires more energy and oxygen to sustain the increased effort, which can lead to hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle) over time if the increased afterload persists. This increase in workload can also impede the heart's ability to pump effectively if the afterload remains elevated for an extended period, potentially resulting in heart failure.

In summary, the correct choice highlights that increased afterload leads to an increased cardiac workload as the heart struggles to maintain adequate blood flow against greater resistance.