Heart Failure: Symptoms, Causes, & Types

Types of Heart Failure

The following are the different types of heart failure: 

• Right-sided heart failure: This type affects the right ventricle, the lower right chamber of the heart. Swelling could result from fluid backing up into the legs, foot, and tummy.

• Left-sided heart failure: This type affects the left ventricle, which is the lower left chamber of the heart. Breathing difficulties could result from fluid building up in the lungs.

• Systolic heart failure: This is a type of left-sided cardiac failure exists. The left ventricle is unable to contract as forcefully as it should. Insufficient blood is being pumped to the body by the weak heart.

• Diastolic heart failure: This is a type of left-sided heart failure. The left ventricle becomes stiff and has trouble filling with blood.

Causes of Heart Failure

A heart that is weaker, injured, or stiff can develop heart failure.

The heart chambers may extend and enlarge if the heart is weak or injured. The amount of blood required by the body cannot be pumped out by the heart. The ventricles, the heart's primary pumping chambers, cannot fill with enough blood between beats if they are stiff. Certain illnesses, excessive alcohol use, illegal drug usage, and some chemotherapy drugs can all harm the heart muscle. Your genes may also be important.

Heart failure can also be brought on by any of the following disorders that weaken or harm the heart:

• Coronary artery disease. Heart failure is most frequently brought on by coronary artery disease. Fatty deposits accumulating in the arteries cause the condition. The arteries are clogged with deposits. This lowers blood flow and increases the risk of heart attack.

• Elevated blood pressure. This disorder, also known as hypertension, makes the heart work harder than it should to pump blood throughout the body. The additional strain over time may cause the heart muscle to become too stiff or frail to effectively pump blood.

• Concerns with heart valves. The heart's valves maintain proper blood flow. A malfunctioning valve makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. Over time, this might weaken the heart. Heart failure may be reversed by treating some heart valve issues.

• Myocarditis is another name for inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocarditis, which can result in left-sided heart failure, may be caused by viruses or inflammatory conditions.

• A birth condition of the heart is commonly known as a congenital heart defect. The other components of the heart must exert more effort to pump blood if the heart's chambers or valves haven't developed properly. Heart failure could result from this.

• Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats. The heart may beat too quickly due to irregular cardiac rhythms, putting the organ under additional strain. Heart failure can also result from a slow heartbeat. Some people's heart failure may be reversed by treating an irregular heartbeat.

• Various illnesses. Chronic heart failure may be exacerbated by some chronic illnesses. Diabetes, HIV infection, an overactive or underactive thyroid, or protein or iron accumulation.