The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients around the body. This supply is important for the functioning of other body organs. When the heart is unable to meet this purpose, it is known as heart failure. Several conditions can increase a person's risk of heart failure. These include age, heart disease, diabetes, previous infections, lung conditions and congenital defects from infancy.
Previous Heart Attack and Hypertension
When the blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart is obstructed, it can result in a heart attack. This decreased supply of oxygen and blood causes the heart muscle to get weak. The heart is now unable to pump effectively, which can lead to a heart failure.
According to the American Heart Association, hypertension can increase the risk of heart failure twice as much. The high pressure in the blood vessels forces the heart to pump with greater force in order to circulate blood well. This puts a high demand on the heart, which can lead to heart failure.
Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Defects
Coronary heart disease can lead to heart failure due to occlusion of the blood vessels. Fat and other deposits are inserted in the walls of the blood vessels, which decreases blood and oxygen supply. Coronary artery disease also increases the risk of hypertension, which has been linked with heart failure.
Some people have certain heart defects that either develop while in the womb or later in life due to infections and disease. Defective valves sometimes are unable to open and close well, making it difficult for blood to flow effectively. This causes an increase in the workload of the heart, and makes it have to pump harder in order for blood to circulate throughout the body.
Other Diseases
With respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the lungs do not function properly and oxygen levels are decreased. The heart has to increase its workload in order to deliver oxygen to the body tissues. People with diabetes have a high risk of developing hypertension, which can also lead to heart failure. People with severe anemia have a lower red blood cell count. This means that there is a reduced number of red blood cells available to carry oxygen. The heart has to exert greater effort in order to transport the reduced number of cells at an increased heart rate. When the heart has an abnormal and irregular heart rhythm, it may be unable to pump sufficient blood throughout the body to meet metabolic needs.
A person with a thyroid gland with abnormal overactive functioning, also known as hyperthyroidism, can develop heart failure. This is due to increased pumping of the heart to meet the increased metabolic activity.
