Which condition is associated with increased preload?

Increased preload refers to the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole, just before the heart contracts. This condition is often associated with heart failure, where the heart's ability to pump effectively is compromised. In heart failure, either the heart muscle is weakened or the heart is unable to relax properly, leading to an increase in blood volume in the ventricles.

As a result, stress on the heart increases because the ventricles are filled with more blood than normal. This elevated preload can lead to a variety of symptoms, including congestion in the lungs or systemic circulation. Consequently, understanding the relationship between heart failure and increased preload is critical for recognizing how heart failure develops and progresses, as well as how it is managed clinically. Other conditions, like hypertension or myocardial infarction, may affect heart function and dynamics, but they do not specifically lead to an increase in preload in the same direct way that heart failure does.