Heart Failure
Heart failure is a progressive disorder in which damage to the heart causes weakening of the cardiovascular system.
It manifests by fluid congestion or inadequate blood flow to tissues. Heart failure progresses by underlying heart injury or inappropriate responses of the body to heart impairment.
- What Is Heart Failure?
- What Causes Heart Failure?
- Who Is At Risk for Heart Failure?
- How Is Heart Failure Diagnosed?
- How Is Heart Failure Treated?
- How Can Heart Failure Be Prevented?
- Living With Heart Failure
- Key points
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What Causes Heart Failure?
Conditions that damage the heart muscle or make it work too hard can cause heart failure. Over time, the heart weakens. It isn't able to fill with and/or pump blood as well as it should.
As the heart weakens, certain proteins and other substances may be released into the blood. They have a toxic effect on the heart and blood flow, and they cause heart failure to worsen.
Major Causes
The most common causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure, and diabetes. Treating these problems can prevent or improve heart failure.
Coronary Artery Disease
CAD occurs when a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up in your coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque narrows the arteries, causing less blood to flow to your heart muscle. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack, and heart damage.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is “high” if it stays at or above 140/90 mmHg over a period of time. High blood pressure stiffens blood vessels and makes the heart work harder. Without treatment, the heart may be damaged.
Diabetes
This disease occurs when the level of sugar in the blood is high. The body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use its insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps convert food to energy. High sugar levels can damage blood vessels around the heart.
Other Causes
Other diseases and conditions that can lead to heart failure are:
- • Heart muscle diseases. These diseases may be present at birth or due to injury or infection.
- • Heart valve disorders. These problems may be present at birth or due to infections, heart attacks, or damage from heart disease.
- • Arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs), or irregular heartbeats. These heart problems may be present at birth or due to heart disease or heart defects.
- • Congenital heart defects. These heart problems are present at birth.
Other factors also can injure the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. These include:
- • Treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy
- • Thyroid disorders (having either too much or too little thyroid hormone in the body)
- • Alcohol abuse
- • HIV/AIDS
- • Cocaine and other illegal drug use
- • Too much vitamin E
Heart damage from obstructive sleep apnea may cause heart failure to worsen. In obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow while you’re sleeping. This can deprive the heart of oxygen and increase its workload. Treating this sleep problem may improve heart failure.
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