According to the online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus, congestive heart failure (also called heart failure) occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to supply an adequate amount of oxygen to all of the body's tissues. According to the American Heart Association, the root of heart failure is coronary heart disease, which causes one out of every six deaths in the United States. As of 2010, 5,800,000 people were affected by some degree of heart failure. Multiple risk factors contribute to a person's likelihood of experiencing congestive heart failure.
Cardiovascular Disease
The Mayo Clinic reports that a major risk factor for the development of congestive heart failure is cardiovascular disease, which encompasses all diseases that affect the heart and the arteries that bring blood to and from the heart. Subtypes of cardiovascular disease that are risk factors for congestive heart failure are high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, in which the arteries are more narrow than normal, and an irregular heartbeat. All of these conditions cause the heart to work harder than normal, which can cause the heart to weaken and not pump blood efficiently. A medical history of a heart attack is also a risk factor for heart failure, as a heart attack can cause significant damage to the heart and affect its performance in the future.
Diabetes
The Mayo Clinic reports that having diabetes directly increases the risk of having congestive heart failure. Diabetes can also increase the risk of congestive heart failure indirectly by increasing the risk of developing coronary artery disease. According to Merck Manuals, an online medical library, diabetes can cause the walls of the heart to stiffen, weakening the heart's ability to pump blood through the bloodstream. The Mayo Clinic also reports that some medications prescribed for the treatment of diabetes and its complications, including Avandia and Actos, may also increase the risk of developing congestive heart failure.
Diet
An unhealthy diet also increases the risk of heart failure, according to MedlinePlus. These factors include high salt intake, drinking a lot of alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Merck Manuals also adds a high-fat diet as a risk factor. Merck Manuals cites alcohol and cigarettes as risk factors because they directly damage the heart and/or blood vessels attached to the heart.
Other Risk Factors
Any condition in which the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the body may be a risk factor for congestive heart failure. Other risk factors described by the Mayo Clinic include congenital heart defects, sleep apnea (in which a person does not breathe properly while asleep), certain viral infections and some kidney diseases (in which excess fluid is retained, causing the heart to work harder while pumping blood).
