Four reasons heart failure can happen are high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and valveular heart disease. The result is the heart becomes unable to effectively pump blood to the body.
Long-term high blood pressure (hypertension), if left untreated, can lead to the heart becoming enlarged, which can cause this condition. Medication and dietary changes are two treatments for high blood pressure.
Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscles are blocked or impaired; this affects the functioning of the heart muscles. The heart becomes weak, and eventually stops. Bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty are the usual treatments. This usually results in "end stage heart failure".
