What Makes One Prone to Heart Failure?

Heart failure is a serious, chronic cardiac condition where the heart does not properly function, in other words, the heart cannot pump blood as it should. When the heart fails, blood often flows backward and the lungs fill up with fluids, leading to shortness of breath. End-stage heart failure can be fatal. However, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons can help save the lives of heart failure patients with treatment strategies or Heart Failure Surgery in Delhi by addressing the underlying cause of their condition and improving their symptoms. 

Heart failure can be an outcome of weakened or damaged heart muscles or else the stiffening of the ventricles- the main heart pumping chambers. Anyone can experience heart failure, but it is more likely to occur in ageing people. Most individuals who develop heart failure first have or had another cardiac issue. 

Here are the factors that make one more prone to heart failure:

• Hypertension- High blood pressure forces the heart to pump harder. Over time, the heart muscles may become weak or stiff leading to a failing heart. 

• Coronary artery disease and heart attack- It is caused by high cholesterol, the fatty build-up along the walls of the coronary arteries that makes the arteries narrow and reduces blood flow leading to heart attack. A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the coronary artery and it can lead to damage to the heart muscle, thereby causing heart failure. 

• Heart valve disease- The valves of the heart function to prevent the backflow of blood in between the heart chambers and in and out of the heart. If any valve gets diseased or damaged, the heart may pump harder, leading to heart failure. 

• Myocarditis- It is the inflammation of the cardiac muscle commonly because of viral infection. 

• Congenital heart defect- In case the heart chambers or the valves are not properly formed at birth, the heart functioning gets affected often resulting in heart failure. 

• Arrhythmias- When the heart beats too fast or slow or irregularly for a long term, it can fail. 

• Other long-term illnesses- These include diabetes, thyroid disorder, HIV infection, or iron/protein build-up.

At Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for heart failure many life saving surgeries are conducted by senior heart surgeon and Heart Transplant Doctor in Delhi, Dr. Sujay Shad.

Additional risk factors that may cause sudden heart failure include:

• Excessive smoking

• Drug or alcohol abuse

• Being overweight or obese

• Radiation therapies or chemotherapy

• Blood clots in the lungs

• Severe infections

• Allergic reactions

• Use of certain medications.

Ignoring heart signs of disease or illness can be fatal. Reach Dr. Sujay Shad for more details!