Patient/caregiver was instructed that damage with poor blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle is the central element for development of congestive heart failure.
The risk factors and causes for damage to the cardiac muscle could vary as follows:
- Arrhythmia: Individuals with history of arrhythmia present with ineffective and rapid contractions of the heart chambers, resulting in poor pumping activity of the heart. Increased back up of blood in the heart chambers can lead to increased pressure in the heart chambers. This progressively can result in enlargement of the heart, weakening of heart muscle, and heart failure.
- Hyperthyroidism: Abnormally increased thyroid hormone levels can result in unusual faster heart rate, thus increasing the workload on the heart. Untreated or poorly controlled hyperthyroidism increases the oxygen demand of heart muscle and gradually damage the heart muscle, leading to heart failure.
- Defective repair: Following any injury to heart muscle, abnormal scar tissue could be deposited occasionally during the natural repair process. This scar tissue weakens the heart muscle, resulting in ineffective contractions and heart failure.
- Damage to the heart muscle could also be due to factors such as, exposure to toxins, bacterial/viral/fungal infections of the heart muscle, alcohol abuse, and uncontrolled diabetes. Damaged heart muscle can result in ineffective contractions, thus rendering the heart increasingly weaker and result in heart failure.
