Causes of Heart Failure
- Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not adequately pump blood into the body. This can cause fatigue, difficulty breathing, fluid buildup in the feet, legs and ankles, and blood and other fluid buildup in the lungs. According to the National Institute of Health, heart failure affects approximately five million Americans and contributes to 300,000 deaths annually. High blood pressure, diabetes and coronary artery disease are the most common causes of heart failure. Over time, these conditions leave the heart too weak to pump properly.
- Blood pressure is the force at which blood is pumped through your arteries. According to the Mayo Clinic, a high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Over time, to compensate for the extra work, the heart can enlarge. This can leave the heart too damaged to pump blood properly.
- Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. According to the Mayo Clinic, coronary artery disease causes the arteries to clog with fatty deposits. When this happens, the arteries narrow, causing blood to circulate slower than it should. This leaves some parts of the heart weak and low on blood, which can cause heart failure.
- According to the National Institute of Health, diabetes is a condition in which people have sugar or blood glucose levels that are abnormally high. With this disease, either people are not able to make the insulin used to break down glucose, or the body is unable to use the insulin properly. Because diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, it is a common cause of heart failure.
- Having more than one risk factor increases your chances of heart failure. Other conditions that can weaken or damage your heart include kidney issues, alcohol use, sleep apnea, viral infections and abnormal heartbeats. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle you can reduce your chances of suffering from heart failure.
- Heart failure can be treated with medications, surgery and medical devices that help the heart beat properly. According to the Mayo Clinic, treating the cause of heart failure can sometimes improve your symptoms. Physicians typically treat heart failure with a combination of two or more medications. In some cases, doctors may recommend surgical procedures such as a coronary bypass or replacement of a heart valve to treat heart failure. Individuals suffering from severe heart failure may need to have their damaged heart replaced with a new one from an organ donor.
