Heart failure is a serious and progressive condition. When it happens it means that your heart is no longer able to pump blood and oxygen throughout your system. However with the right treatment plan you can still have a good quality of life. In the case of heart disease, prevention is the key. This is especially true as you age. The first step is to understand the causes of heart failure and then take steps to reduce your risk of developing this disease.
Coronary Artery Disease
According to the National Institutes of Health, heart failure is the No. 1 reason that individuals over the age of 65 are hospitalized. In most cases it is caused by a disease that has damaged the heart. One such disease is coronary artery disease. If you develop coronary artery disease or a narrowing of the arteries, and do not take steps to control it, your heart muscle may become overworked and fail. Coronary artery disease means that plaque has built up on the walls of the arteries, which hinders blood flow. This can occur if you are overweight, eat too much fat or cholesterol, are sedentary or participate in other unhealthy behaviors such as smoking. When less blood is able to get through your arteries, the heart must beat faster and harder to do its job. This can eventually weaken and damage the heart muscle.
Heart Attack
The Heart Failure Society of America states that coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can all lead to a heart attack. They all place extra stress on your heart as they restrict its blood supply. When someone has a heart attack, it means that the heart muscle was not getting the blood and oxygen it needed to survive. As this happens, cells within the heart die and a heart attack occurs. The result is damage to the heart muscle and its ability to pump blood. If your heart attack was severe enough you may develop heart failure.
Heart Valve Disease
Your heart contains four valves that help your blood to move in the right direction by preventing it from flowing back into the area it was just pumped out of. Your chances of developing a problem with your heart valves increases with age. Certain conditions can damage these valves which causes blood and other fluids to back up into the heart and lungs. This makes the heart muscle work harder to try to get the extra fluid out. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute warns that if left untreated, over time this condition can weaken the heart muscle and heart failure can occur.
Cardiomyopathy
If you have cardiomyopathy it means that your heart muscle has become enlarged, thick or rigid and may have developed scar tissue. You can be born with this condition. You can also develop it due to one of the heart diseases listed above, exposure to toxins or as a result of an infection in the body. This condition weakens your heart muscle and can cause heart failure.
Diabetes
If you have or are at risk for diabetes, the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse says that you are also at risk for heart disease and heart failure. High blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels. Damaged blood vessels can contribute to all of the above-mentioned conditions. In addition, if you have diabetes and are elderly, you may be more prone to have other risk factors for heart disease. This includes being overweight, carrying extra abdominal fat, being sedentary and eating an unhealthy diet.
