Heart Failure

One way to prevent heart failure is to prevent and control conditions that cause it, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. In addition, any damage to the heart muscle – from drug or alcohol use, viral infections, or unknown causes – increases the risk of heart failure. When the heart muscle cannot contract with sufficient force, systolic dysfunction (or systolic heart failure) occurs, resulting in less oxygen-rich blood pumped through the body. Without adequate blood flow, all essential body functions will be impaired, leading to possible heart failure.