Heart Failure Causes

An organ is a complicated structure of several tissues that form a particular function. One’s body has several organs such as the kidneys, the heart, the lungs, the liver and the brain (Pickering, Ron). However, there are times when the particular organ is unable to perform its function and this is known as ‘Organ Failure.’

Understanding Heart Functionality

Every organ is capable of disfunctioning, however, the most common organ failures occur in the heart and in the kidneys. The heart is an organ that pumps blood for the entire body from the brain to the toes. The heart is the primary part of the circulatory system as it maintains the pressure for the blood to pass through the veins, capillaries, and arteries. The heart has four chambers: the right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium and left atrium. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs; similarly, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the vena cava (Pickering, Ron). In Fig 1, the right atrium and ventricle and the left atrium and ventricle can be seen as well as the position and other parts of the heart.

Atrium vs Ventricle Dynamics

There is a very definite difference between the atriums and ventricles; that is, the atrium gets blood at a low pressure from the veins and the ventricle pumps out blood at a high pressure to the arteries. Heart failure can be caused due to various reasons; however, the main cause of this occurring is that the heart isn’t able to pump sufficient blood or meet the blood requirements of the body.

Types of Heart Failure

There are two assumptions that can be made when one is suffering with heart failure: either the heart is unable to fill up with enough blood or it is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body, which over time weakens the heart leading to a congested heart or heart failure. To add on, heart failure develops differently in each individual; many face heart failure in both sides of their hearts, although some only face issues in either right or left side alone. The right side of the heart suffers with heart failure when it isn’t able to pump enough blood for lungs to get oxygen; left side heart failure occurs when it cannot pump “oxygen-rich” blood for the body (Mayo Clinic).

Long-term Effects on Heart Health

In most cases of heart failure, it affects overtime because it becomes stiff and weaker; however, it has also been studied that in few cases, damaged heart muscle may lead to both ventricles stretching out very wide being unable to fulfill oxygen requirements in body. Fig 2 easily manages to show how when a heart starts to weaken and displays symptoms of heart failure it begins to expand in size. This requires it to start working stronger and faster to pump blood for proper bodily functions.

External Influences on Heart Failure

In addition, heart failure has several external causes as well and not only those occurring within itself. For example, high blood pressure or hypertension can induce heart failure. When one suffers from high blood pressure, their heart works harder and faster than necessary (Mayo Clinic). This excess exertion could make it weaker and stiffer leading to less capability in pumping adequate amounts of blood.

Coronary Artery Disease Impact

Similarly, a coronary artery disease (CAD) can induce heart failure. CAD occurs when plaque builds up inside coronary arteries decreasing vital blood flow drastically which can eventually lead to a potential heart attack.

Additional Causes of Heart Failure

These causes are just a few; there are numerous more ways that heart failure can be induced such as faulty heart valves, myocarditis, arrhythmias, and congenital defects people are born with (Mayo Clinic).