Am I at Risk for Developing Congestive Heart Failure?

Close to 7 million adults over the age of 20 are living with heart failure, a long-term condition that occurs when the heart is damaged or weak, leaving it unable to pump enough blood. It’s one of the most common causes of hospitalization in adults over the age of 65.

First Response Urgent Care provides accurate diagnoses for a full range of conditions and can evaluate you for heart failure.

What is congestive heart failure?

CHF doesn’t mean that your heart failed. It means that your heart isn’t pumping efficiently, which causes various symptoms, most commonly:

Fatigue
Dizziness
Dry cough
Shortness of breath
Heart palpitations
Swelling in the ankles and legs

When the heart has trouble pumping enough blood, blood collects in other areas. You may feel nauseous, notice reduced endurance, and experience discomfort and swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet.

You may also need to urinate more often, including overnight. Keep in mind that these are symptoms of various possible conditions. Our providers will help you determine if your symptoms could be due to congestive heart failure.

What are the risk factors?

Congestive heart failure, like many chronic illnesses, develops slowly. It’s a progressive, long-term condition. You may be more susceptible to CHF due to risk factors and other conditions.

Congenital heart defects

Some people have cardiac defects from birth, such as a hole in their heart, undeveloped blood arteries, or leaking valves. Any of these issues can make you more susceptible to congestive heart failure.

Severe lung disease

Certain lung conditions can also raise your chances of developing CHF, especially those as prevalent as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It’s more difficult for oxygenated blood to reach your heart and be pumped throughout your body when you have lung conditions or diseases.

Hypertension

High blood pressure makes it difficult for your heart to circulate blood throughout your body. Unlike aerobic exercise, which tests your heart, hypertension stresses and weakens it. High blood pressure can also impair your endurance, causing headaches and fatigue.

Coronary artery disease and previous heart attacks

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and the most likely cause of congestive heart failure. It also leads to heart attacks. The main symptom of the condition is plaque formation in the arteries, which causes blood flow to slow down.

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can boost your risk of developing CHF. Nearly 40% of people living with Type 2 diabetes go on to develop congestive heart failure.

Myocarditis

An inflamed heart (myocarditis) increases your chances of getting CHF and directly causes an irregular heartbeat. Myocarditis can be caused by a variety of factors, the most common of which include viral infections.

Who’s at risk for congestive heart failure?

African Americans experience a higher rate of congestive heart failure. Men of all races are more likely to develop congestive heart failure than women, and everyone over the age of 65 should be aware of their heart's health at all times.

Heart failure is more common than many people realize, so our team is dedicated to helping our patients maintain heart health. If you have concerns about your risk of developing heart failure, our team can provide screening.

To get started, contact us at our Brooklyn, New York, office to schedule a visit.