Contrary
to its name, congestive heart failure does not mean
that the heart has actually "failed." It means that
the heart is no longer able to meet the body's need
for blood because it is pumping inefficiently. This
inefficient pumping causes a backup of blood in
the veins leading to the heart. Backup of blood
in the veins, together with retention of fluid by
the kidneys, causes the body's tissues to swell.
The swelling (edema) most commonly affects the legs,
but it can also occur in the lungs (causing breathing
difficulty) and in other tissues and organs.
Congestive heart failure is often the end stage
of another form of heart disease. Its many causes
include coronary heart disease; hypertension;
heart valve disorders (including rheumatic heart
disease); congenital heart disorders; cardiomyopathy
(disease of the heart muscle); myocardial infarction
(heart attack); cardiac arrhythmias (problems
with the heart rate and/or rhythm), and toxic
exposures, including excessive intake of alcohol.
Hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and chronic lung disease
are also risk factors for congestive heart failure.
All of these disorders may lead to congestive
heart failure by weakening the heart muscle and/or
increasing the heart's workload.
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