Leading Causes Of Heart Failure You Should Be Aware of

PAST HEART ATTACKS (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION)

When an artery supplying blood to the heart muscle gets block, the person suffers from a heart attack. Due to lack of supply of oxygen and nutrients the heart’s muscle tissue gets affected. Consequently, the heart’s ability to pump blood significantly weakens, resulting in a higher chance of heart failure in the future.HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart failure in today’s time and age, when stress is affecting the health of majority of people. When pressure in the blood vessels becomes too high, the heart has to pump harder than normal to keep the blood circulating. This results in overexertion of the heart, and over time the chambers get larger and weaker.

If you are at a risk of developing heart failure, you should maintain your blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg with the help of medication prescribed by your doctor.

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)

In Coronary Artery Disease, the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscles by the arteries gets significantly decreased. This could be a result of a damaged artery or atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which arteries get blocked due to the accumulation of cholesterol and fatty deposits in them, which could result in chest pain, high blood pressure or worse, a heart attack or heart failure.

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Congenital Heart Disease is a malformation of the heart, aorta, or other large blood vessels that is present from the birth. When the chambers of the heart are not formed completely from birth itself, the other healthy parts have to work harder in order for the heart to function normally, which results in their overexertion. Therefore, the risk of heart attacks or heart failure naturally increases.

HEART MUSCLE DISEASE (cardiomyopathy) or INFLAMMATION (myocarditis)

When heart muscles get damaged due to causes other than artery or blood flow problems, like alcohol or drug abuse, viral infections or unknown causes, the function of pumping blood to the rest of the body gets weakened. This can be a cause heart attack and is one of the leading causes of heart failure.

DIABETES

People with diabetes are more likely to develop hypertension and atherosclerosis from elevated lipid levels, i.e., fatty compounds in the blood — both of which are known causes of heart failure. 

SLEEP APNEA

Sleep Apnea is a very dangerous disorder caused when a person breathing is stopped during sleep.Peoples who are affected with this disorder can’t breathe properly and stop breathing many times during sleep. This means the brain and the rest of the body do not get enough oxygen.
Sleep apnea can result in fatigued body throughout the day, high blood pressure, diabetes and increased risks of heart attacks and possible heart failure.

SEVERE LUNG DISEASE

Due to a severe disease or infection, when the lungs start to malfunction, the heart has to work harder in supplying oxygen to the rest of the body, thus resulting in overexertion of the heart muscles. This can easily be a cause of a stroke or heart failure.