Heart Failure Causes and Symptoms

Causes of Heart Failure

• Cardiac causes:
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle)
  • Heart valve problems
• Non-cardiac causes:
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disease
  • Thyroid disease
  • Severe anemia
  • Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)
  • Infections (e.g., endocarditis)
  • Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., thiamine deficiency)

Symptoms of Heart Failure

• Common symptoms:
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea) at rest or with exertion
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, and feet
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Chest pain or discomfort
• Less common symptoms:
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Confusion or impaired thinking
  • Pale or blue-tinged skin ( cyanosis)
  • Decreased urine output
  • Weight gain due to fluid retention
• Symptoms of advanced heart failure:
  • Severe shortness of breath at rest
  • Increased swelling in the abdomen
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Cool or pale skin
  • Decreased mental alertness

Causes of Heart Failure

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a cardiac cause of heart failure
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) can lead to heart failure
• Cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, is a cardiac cause of heart failure
• Heart valve problems can also cause heart failure
• High blood pressure is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Diabetes is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Kidney disease is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Thyroid disease is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Severe anemia is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, is a non-cardiac cause of heart failure
• Infections such as endocarditis can cause heart failure
• Nutritional deficiencies, such as thiamine deficiency, can cause heart failure

Symptoms of Heart Failure

• Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, can occur at rest or with exertion
• Fatigue or weakness is a common symptom of heart failure
• Swelling, or edema, can occur in the legs, ankles, and feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat is a common symptom of heart failure
• Coughing or wheezing can occur in heart failure patients
• Chest pain or discomfort is a common symptom of heart failure
• Nausea or vomiting can occur in heart failure patients
• Loss of appetite can occur in heart failure patients
• Confusion or impaired thinking can occur in heart failure patients
• Pale or blue-tinged skin, or cyanosis, can occur in heart failure patients
• Decreased urine output can occur in heart failure patients
• Weight gain due to fluid retention can occur in heart failure patients
• Severe shortness of breath at rest is a symptom of advanced heart failure
• Increased swelling in the abdomen can occur in advanced heart failure
• Decreased blood pressure can occur in advanced heart failure
• Cool or pale skin can occur in advanced heart failure
• Decreased mental alertness can occur in advanced heart failure

Learn about the different causes of heart failure, including cardiac and non-cardiac factors, as well as common symptoms of the condition.