Heart failure occurs when your heart becomes weak, preventing it from performing its vital function of circulating blood and oxygen to your body's organs.
With CHF, the fluid builds up around the heart, blocking its ability to pump blood properly. Fluid buildup can leak from the blood vessels in the lungs, muscles, Texas Heart Doctor Near Me and organs. Adequate circulation is essential for all the muscles and organs of your body to perform the functions required for a healthy, happy life.
CHF Risk Factors
Now that you understand what causes the developing heart failure, you may want to know more about how to avoid this condition so that you can enjoy a better heart health.
1. Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that causes high levels of glucose in the blood. Normally, your pancreas should make insulin to control your blood sugar levels, but when this hormone is not present, it eventually leads to high blood sugar. Diabetes contributes to the tightening and narrowing of blood vessels, restricting blood flow, and increasing the risk of heart attack.
Obesity
2. Obesity
Obesity can put you at greater risk for health problems, including problems related to your cardiovascular system. While there are genetic, behavioral, physiological and hormonal effects on body weight, you will often gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn. Foods that contain mainly processed foods will be equally high in unhealthy fats, carbs, sugars, sodium and cholesterol. Avoiding all of this increases your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, which puts you at greater risk for developing congestive heart failure.
3. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure raises tension in the arteries, which carry blood from the heart. People with high blood pressure may be at risk for developing congestive heart failure.
4. Heart Attack
If you have ever had a heart attack, and you have a high chance of developing dumb heart failure. Each heart attack weakens the heart muscle, which can put you at risk for other heart conditions. A weak heart cannot function as it should, supplying blood and oxygen to the organs.
5. Coronary Artery Diseases
Blood vessels help to move blood back to the heart. With coronary artery disease, the walls of the coronary arteries accumulate synthetic cholesterol, which forms plaque. Over time, accumulated cholesterol plaque inhibits blood flow and increases the risk of future heart failure.
6. Smoking
Smoking allows a variety of toxins to enter your body, and people who smoke regularly are more prone to heart disease. Cigarette chemicals often build up in the arteries, block blood flow and can cause problems such as clots and aneurysms.
7. Excessive drinking
Prolonged exposure to alcohol can have a devastating effect on your physical and mental health. If you abuse alcohol, you may be putting yourself at risk for body failure, brain damage, and even other cancers. You may also experience mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, which can affect your heart.
Age
8. Age
Your heart is a weakened muscle over time, which is why adults 65 and older are at greater risk of developing congestive heart failure. Approximately 6.2 million adults have developed heart failure in the U.S. Only, that made it one of the leading causes of death for American adults.
9. Gender
Sex plays a role in your chances of developing silent heart failure. Women, especially the elderly, are at greater risk for this condition. Congestive heart failure affects more than 2.5 million women and is a common cause of hospitalization. If you are a woman and you have other risk factors, your chances of developing heart failure are greatly increased.
10. Genetics / Family History
Your unique genetic makeup may put you at risk for heart disease. If any of your close relatives have cardiovascular disease, heart disease, congestion, or other issues such as diabetes, you may end up getting those diseases, too.
11. Racism
While anyone can have severe heart failure, other races are at greater risk. For example, African Americans have a 30% higher risk of dying from heart disease than Caucasians. Depending on your race, you may be at risk of developing high blood pressure.
Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Heart Failure
Factors such as your nationality, age and family history are out of your control. However, certain lifestyle choices may make you less likely to develop congestive heart failure. For example, changing the way you eat can improve your heart health. You may be surprised at how much better you feel after a few months choosing a new product, whole grains and lean protein sources instead of processed foods that have been processed, pre-cooked.
In addition to being very knowledgeable about the food you eat, the activity of your heart muscle can also help you to stay healthy. You don’t need to choose a great workout. Even a short walk around the block will bring you benefits such as emotional improvement, stronger bones, better balance and a stronger heart. Reducing or stopping your use of tobacco and alcohol can also improve your health in many ways.
