Congestive Heart Failure: Causes

What causes congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure is a common complication of heart diseases and conditions that damage the heart muscle or make it work too hard. This makes the heart weak and unable to pump blood effectively through the body. Diseases, disorders and conditions that can cause congestive heart failure include:

• Advanced age (65 years and older)

• Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (buildup of plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries; atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis)

• Cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

• Cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscle)

• Congenital heart diseases (heart diseases or abnormalities present at birth)

• Diabetes (chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)

• Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction (death of heart tissue due to a lack of oxygen)

• Heart valve disorders

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

• Myocarditis (type of inflammation of the heart)

• Severe anemia (low number of red blood cells)

What are the risk factors for congestive heart failure?

Diseases and conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease or cardiovascular disease also increase the risk of eventually developing congestive heart failure as a complication. Risk factors include:

• African American ancestry

• Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (buildup of plaque on the arteries that supply the heart)

• Diabetes (chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Family history of heart disease or cardiovascular disease

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Obesity

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Smoking

Having high levels of certain substances in the body, which can be determined by blood tests, can also increase the risk for heart disease and congestive heart failure. These include:

• High cholesterol, which can lead to atherosclerosis

• High C-reactive protein level, which reflects inflammation

• High homocysteine level, which may damage artery walls and increase the risk of developing blood clots. Blood clots can cause a heart attack and lead to congestive heart failure.

Reducing your risk of congestive heart failure

You can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and congestive heart failure by:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and trans fats and high in fiber, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables

• Limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Not smoking

• Participating in a regular exercise program

• Reducing excessive stress

• Seeking regular medical care and prenatal care and following your treatment plan for such conditions as high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes