Improved
6139 HealthChanged
3797 LivesSaved
3584 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Causes
Causes include:
-
Problems with the heart's valves due to:
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Bacterial endocarditis
- Congenital defects
- Calcium deposits
- High blood pressure
- Heart muscle damage after a heart attack
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy
(weakened, damaged heart muscle) due to:
- Infection
- Excess alcohol ingestion
- Genetic defect
- Certain medications
- Arrhythmias
- Complications from the use of beta-blocking or digitalis-containing medications
- Diabetes
- Emphysema
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Excess salt intake
- Amyloidosis
- Pneumonia
- Kidney and/or liver failure
- Anabolic steroid use
- Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency
Risk Factors
Risk factors include:
- Sex: male
- Race: Black
- Advancing age
- Pregnancy
- Excess alcohol intake
- Excess intake of salt and fat
- High fever
- Infection
- Obesity
- Chronic lung disease
- Use of beta-blocking or digitalis-containing medications in certain settings
- Chemotherapy
- Arrhythmia
- Heart valve disease
- Heart muscle damage from heart attack, infection, or medications
- Overactive thyroid
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.