What causes heart failure?

The heart works as a pump sending oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body. Heart failure means that the heart is not working as well as it should be. It is a chronic and progressive disease also known as congestive heart failure.

Someone with advanced heart failure feels extreme fatigue and shortness of breath even at rest, but what are the causes of this disease? Heart failure is often related to conditions that directly affect the heart:

Acute myocardial infarction or heart attack

The coronary arteries are responsible for carrying blood and oxygen to the heart. This constant flow can be interrupted by plaque (fatty deposits) buildup in the wall of the arteries, which forms over the years. Several factors make fatty deposits more likely to form such as smoking, lack of physical activity, diabetes and hypertension. Sometimes, this plaque can rupture and the clot that forms over the plaque then worsens the blockage of the heart arteries. The cells resent this lack of oxygen which translates into chest pain, the most common symptom of a heart attack.

Myocarditis or heart muscle inflammation

Myocarditis occurs when the heart muscle becomes inflamed in response to a virus, a general inflammatory process in the body or a reaction to certain medications, some toxic substances such as alcohol or cocaine can also affect the heart.

Heart valve disease

The heart has four valves that open and close to allow the passage of blood. Sometimes these valves don’t work properly. When there is stenosis or narrowing, blood flow through the valve is reduced. When valvular regurgitation happens, blood leaks backward across the valve. Heart valve disease forces the heart to increase its effort and pump harder.