Risk Factors That Can Trigger Heart Failure
Heart failure is a general term that describes a weakening heart. It afflicts about five million Americans, and causes or contributes to about 300,000 deaths a year.
Heart failure is diagnosed when the heart loses pumping power, usually causing widespread swelling, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Mark Herpel, 49, describes the feeling as “having your head held under a pool, but you can’t get to the surface so you begin to panic.”
The National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute categorizes the two types of heart failure as follows.
Systolic: This occurs when the heart’s ability to contract decreases. The heart cannot pump with enough force to push a sufficient amount of blood into the circulation. Blood coming into the heart from the lungs may back up and cause fluid to leak into the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary congestion.
Diastolic: This occurs when the heart has a problem relaxing. It cannot properly fill with blood because the muscle has become stiff, losing its ability to relax. This form may lead to fluid accumulation, especially in the feet, ankles, and legs. Some patients may have lung congestion.
Major factors that may increase the risk of developing heart failure include the following.
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Valve-related heart disease
A previous heart attack or a serious infection can also usher in heart failure. New evidence suggests insulin resistance may also be a cause. And the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin has been linked to higher than normal rates of heart failure.
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