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Back to Diseases
Heart
Failure
What causes heart failure?
Anything that weakens the heart's ability to fill with blood
or pump blood can lead to heart failure. The three most common
causes are diseased arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease,
or CAD), high blood pressure, and dilated cardiomyopathy (diseased
or enlarged heart muscle). Nearly any form of heart disease
can lead to heart failure. Other causes include the following:
• Heart attack • Abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias,
such as atrial fibrillation) • Diseased heart valves•
Heart problems from birth• Diabetes Treatments for cancer,
thyroid disorders, alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDs, and using cocaine
and other street drugs can also cause problems leading to heart
failure.
