Many medical conditions can weaken the heart, leading to heart failure. Common causes include:
– Coronary artery disease and heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and a major cause of heart failure. It results from a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, limiting blood flow and leading to a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked. Damage to the heart means that the function of pumping blood has weakened.
– Cardiomyopathy. This implies damage to the heart muscles for reasons other than artery blockage or blood-flow-related problems. These include infections, alcohol or drug abuse, and chemotherapy, to name a few.
– Congenital Heart Disease. Heart ailments present at birth may result in damage to the heart over a period of time. Sometimes, chambers and valves of the heart may not have formed correctly since birth, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.
– Hypertension (High blood pressure). If the blood pressure is high, the heart has to work harder to circulate it throughout the body. Over a period of time, this added strain on the heart can make the heart muscles too stiff and weak to pump blood.
– Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms). Arrhythmia may cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or out of rhythm. This adds pressure on the heart and can lead to cardiac failure.
– Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). This is most commonly caused by a virus, including the Covid-19 virus, leading to left-sided cardiac failure.
– Faulty heart valves. The heart valves are used to keep the blood flowing in the proper direction. A damaged valve due to coronary heart disease or any other infection forces the heart to work harder and can lead to cardiac collapse over a period of time.
– Long-term chronic diseases. Conditions such as diabetes, HIV, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, or protein buildup may also contribute to heart failure.
In addition, acute or sudden heart failure may be caused by-
– Allergic reactions
– Severe infections
– Blood clots in the lungs
– Any autoimmune disease affecting the whole body
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure :
Symptoms of cardiac failure may be mild or severe and may come and go. Heart failure may be chronic or ongoing. Common symptoms include:
– Lung congestion and shortness of breath
– Fatigue, dizziness, weakness
– Palpitations or arrhythmia
– Bloated stomach, nausea or loss of appetite
– Persistent coughing
– Intolerance to exercise
– Swelling in legs or ankles or abdomen
– Weight gain
– Chest pain when heart failure is caused by a heart attack.
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