|
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.
|
