What Causes Heart Failure?
Nobody wants to get the news that something is wrong with his heart, so it is important to know what causes heart failure so you can potentially avoid the loss of good health. Usually, heart failure is the result of other issues, though acute heart failure can happen. Most often, heart failure creeps up over years of heart issues or after a traumatic event, such as a heart attack.
Sometimes, heart failure is caused by events or diseases that may sometimes be controlled. Coronary artery disease and/or a heart attack are both common causes of heart failure.
The build up of cholesterol in the arteries, called atherosclerosis, restricts blood flow to the heart. If the flow becomes completely blocked, you can experience chest pain or even a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when the cholesterol build-up causes your arteries to rupture, creating a blood clot that blocks the flow of oxygen-rich blood to an area of your heart.
Hypertension
Hypertension is another major cause of heart failure. Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure. Blood pressure measures the force at which blood is pumped into your heart when it comes from your arteries.
When you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work extra hard to properly circulate your blood through your body. All that extra work gives your heart an unnecessary workout, increasing the size of your heart muscle (known as an enlarged heart). The chambers of your heart get bigger, but either become too weak or too stiff to pump blood properly.
Damage to the Heart
Sometimes, something you cannot help is what causes heart failure, such as problems with your heart valves. When a valve is damaged through heart defect, infection, or coronary artery disease, your heart has to work very hard to pump blood through your body. All of the hard work can make the heart weak. However, abnormal heart valves can be fixed if they are detected early. Damage to the heart, called cardiomyopathy, and inflammation of the heart, called myocarditis, can also lead to heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is caused by alcohol abuse, infections, and side effects of drugs, such as medications used in chemotherapy or illicit drugs like cocaine. Cardiomyopathy may also be caused by systemic diseases, like thyroid problems or lupus. Myocarditis is usually has a viral root that yields heart damage.
Congenital Defects
Even the very young can be troubled with heart failure. People with congenital heart defects (defects present at birth) may develop heart failure over the course of their lives. If the heart’s chambers or valves did not develop correctly before birth, the health parts of the heart have to work extra hard. The overwork could cause heart failure in such people.
Arrhythmias
Heart arrhythmias, also known as abnormal heart rhythms, make your heart beat either with an irregular rhythm, too quickly, or too slowly, overworking the heart. A fast heartbeat makes additional work, which may cause the heart to weaken. A slow heart beat prevents the heart from getting the oxygen-rich blood pumped out to your body, including the heart, itself.
Diseases
Having other diseases may increase your risk for heart disease. Chronic illnesses, like hyperthyroidism, emphysema, diabetes, and severe anemia may lead to heart failure simply because they take such a toll on the body and weaken it. Sometimes, heart failure is the result of a short-term illness or problem, like serious infections, severe allergies, pulmonary blood clots, or viruses that target the heart. Also, if you are living with lung disease, your heart has to work extra hard to get oxygenated blood distributed to the rest of the body.
Preventing Heart Failure
Now that you know what causes heart failure, talk to your doctor. He or she has some great ideas about keeping your heart healthy, including diet and exercise programs that can be fun and keep you in tip-top condition. Taking good care of your heart now can help you avoid heart failure in the future, helping you to enjoy your life to the fullest.