What Causes Heart Failure? High Blood Pressure And Other Contributing Factors You Should Know

Causes of Heart Failure

Heart failure is caused by a combination of several risk factors that differ from person to person. Following are some of the common causes:

• Age– The risk of the heart increases with age and people above the age of 65 are at a higher risk of heart failure.
• Genetic– A prolonged family history or prior experience of heart failure increases the risk of reappearance.
• Lifestyle habits– Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle including food habits and use of toxic drugs can increase the risk.
• Gender– It has been seen that men are at a higher risk of heart failure in comparison to women.
• Diabetes– It increases the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Obesity– People who are overweight are at a higher risk.
• Hypertension– It generally happens due to lack of sleep and higher stress levels and increases risk.
• High blood pressure causes extra exertion on heart muscles, making it too stiff or weak to pump blood properly.
• Arrhythmias– Abnormal heart rhythms can put pressure on the heart and result in heart failure.
• Congenital heart defect– It occurs when chambers or valves are formed incorrectly during birth.
• Coronary artery disease– The arteries become clogged with cholesterol and other deposits, reducing blood flow to the heart.
• Damage to the heart muscle– It can occur genetically or through certain diseases, infection, heavy use of alcohol or drugs.
• Faulty heart valves– It appears due to a heart defect or infection and even due to coronary artery disease.
• Damage to the heart muscle– It can occur genetically or through certain diseases, infection, chemotherapy, and heavy use of alcohol or drugs.
• Heart attack– It can leave scar tissue in the heart, resulting in abnormalities in the heart rhythm. It can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest.

Damages Due To Heart Failure

Since heart failure is a progressive condition that worsens over time, it is important to understand that if not managed properly, it can lead to long-term damage to other organs of the body. Some of these include:

• Kidney damage or failure– Heart failure can have a direct impact on the kidneys and reduce the blood flow to the kidneys. This can eventually cause kidney failure if left unattended. In the worst case, the patient may also require dialysis for treatment
• Liver damage– Heart failure can cause liver congestion which may make it difficult to function properly. If not taken care of, it may lead to scarring of the liver or liver cirrhosis.
• Lungs high pressure in the heart can cause congestion of the lungs and work of breathing may increase.
• Fluid accumulation over the lower limbs and the abdomen.

Our lifestyle choices and eating habits have a direct impact on managing heart failure. Therefore, it is suggested to engage in some form of physical activity daily. Apart from that, it is equally important to follow a healthy diet. In the case there are persisting symptoms, patients are advised to consult a doctor at the earliest to seek accurate treatment to prevent any long-term impact on their health and live a life beyond heart failure.