Heart failure is usually due to heart muscle damage. Heart failure can have a single cause or be due to a number of different conditions affecting the heart at the same time. The commonest causes of heart failure are:
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Coronary heart disease: Coronary heart disease happens when there is a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels that take blood to the heart. This can lead to angina or a heart attack which damage heart muscle. |
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High blood pressure: High blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and, over time, can cause damage to heart muscle. |
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Heart rhythm problems: The commonest is atrial fibrillation; an irregular heart rhythm. If the heart is beating too fast or irregularly, then the pumping of the heart becomes inefficient. |
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Heart valve problems: Can mean that the heart muscle has to work harder and, over time, can become weaker. |
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Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can directly damage heart muscle as well as increasing the risk of heart rhythm problems and high blood pressure. |
Less common cause of heart failure include:
- Being overweight
- Problems within the heart discovered at birth: known as “congenital heart disease”
- Overactive thyroid
- Anaemia
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Recreational drugs
- Pregnancy and the five months after giving birth
- Inherited heart disease – some forms of heart disease can be passed on through your parent’s genes
- Some viral infections
- Some sorts of chemotherapy
How is heart failure diagnosed?
If you are having symptoms that may be due to heart failure, you should see your doctor who will talk to you about those symptoms and examine you.
Your doctor may arrange tests such as:
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Blood tests
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ECG (electrocardiogram): A recording of the electrical activity of the heart to look for
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Blood pressure monitoring: To check if you have high blood pressure. |
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Chest X-Ray: To look for any lung conditions which might be an alternative cause of your symptoms. |
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Echocardiogram: A heart scan, similar to the ultrasound scan that pregnant women have, to assess:
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You might also be referred to the heart specialists (cardiologists) who can do more specialist investigations such as 24 hours ECGs, echocardiograms when you are exercising and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans of the heart.
