An elderly patient with a history of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for 50 years complains

to her physician of progressive shortness of breath. On cardiac examination, the physician feels

the most prominent palpable impulse to be in the xiphoid area. This is most likely a result of what

condition?

a) Mitral regurgitation

b) Aortic stenosis

c) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

d) Hypertension

e) Pulmonary hypertension