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Causes of Congestive heart failure

In many cases, the cause of congestive heart failure is unknown.

Suggested contributors are:

• inflamed or infected heart (cardiomyopathy),
• coronary heart disease,
• disease or infection of the heart valves,
• high cholesterol,
• high blood pressure (hypertension),
• angina,
• alcoholism,
• hyperthyroidism,
• smoking,
• obesity, 
• diabetes, and
• renal failure.

The main contributing factor is age. As you get older, your heart weakens and your blood vessels narrow. Therefore, people over the age of 55 are most affected. In earlier life, men are more at risk of congestive heart failure than women, due to the presence of the hormone oestrogen, but after the age of about 60 the risk is the same.

If you have previously suffered a heart attack, this may mean that a section of your heart no longer works, and so pumps less; possibly leading to congestive heart failure. Not taking medication as prescribed can result in congestive heart failure.

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