Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure, which is also known as congestive heart failure or CHF, simply means your heart is no longer able to pump blood through your body efficiently.

Since the blood is not circulating as it should, it begins to "back up" in a congestive way in other tissues and organs of your body. When those tissues and organs don't get the fresh blood (and therefore the oxygen) they need, they don't function as well as they should.

Congestive heart failure causes

There are a number of causes of congestive heart failure.

Coronary artery disease leads the list. When you have coronary artery disease, the arteries that supply the heart itself with blood have narrowed or become partially blocked. Heart muscle deteriorates. Coronary artery disease can lead to a heart attack.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is another common danger. When blood vessels in your body harden or become narrow (often from a buildup of cholesterol on the walls) the heart has to work harder to push the blood around your circulatory system. The heart eventually weakens from carrying this heavier-than-normal workload. High blood pressure, given enough time, leaves your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently.

Heart failure can occur on either side of your heart, or both sides of your heart. Generally speaking, however, it usually starts with the left side because the left ventricle is your heart's main pumping chamber.

Risk factors

You can't control heredity or family history (which is a major risk factor for heart disease). Some people are born with structural heart defects that lead to heart failure. When a heart problem is present from birth, it's called a congenital heart defect.

There are however, things you can do to lower your risk of congestive heart failure if you were born with a normal heart.

The more your lifestyle includes certain risk factors, the more likely you are to have heart failure someday.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure. As mentioned above, your heart has to work harder than normal to keep blood flowing. Over time, the overload takes a toll.

Coronary artery disease Your heart is one of the hardest working organs in your body. During your lifetime, it may have to beat three billion times. If the arteries that supply blood to the heart, become narrow or blocked, it's bound to lose efficiency.

Heart attack (medical name: myocardial infarction) Many people now survive a heart attack, but such a trauma is bound to leave some damage.

Irregular heartbeats Abnormal rhythms and heart palpitations make your heart work harder, which eventually weakens the heart muscle.

Diabetes Diabetes places many different strains of the systems of the body. Diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.

Sleep apnea Sleep apnea is a disorder that's characterized by pauses or interruptions in normal breathing patterns. These interruptions can lead to low blood oxygen levels and a higher risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Both of these problems can eventually increase the risk of heart failure.

Viruses Viral infections can damage heart muscle, leading to heart failure.

Abuse of alcohol This can impact many different systems of the body, and the heart is among them.

Kidney conditions Kidney problems often cause high blood pressure and fluid retention. Neither of these are good for heart health.

Can heart failure be reversed?

Heart failure can't be reversed, but damage can sometimes be limited or managed. There are medications that improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure. Lifestyle changes can make a difference too.

If you eat a heart healthy diet, limit the amount of salt in the foods you eat, exercise, and keep your weight down, you'll give yourself a much better chance of avoiding heart failure.