What is the Difference between Heart Failure and Heart Attack?

dpadmin Livontaglobal

It is well known that cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks and coronary heart disease pose significant health hazards. Heart attack and heart failure are two medical disorders that are connected but distinct from one another. People frequently mix up these two terms and use them inadvertently. They are different health problems even if the causes and symptoms of both disorders are the same. The best heart hospital in India has doctors who can examine the differences between heart attack and heart failure.

Understanding the difference

Congestive heart failure, usually referred to as heart failure, is a persistent medical condition. This indicates that the problem arises gradually over time. When the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, it is referred to as heart failure. This is when you might need a heart transplant in India High blood pressure and narrowed coronary arteries make the heart weak, clogged, or stiff, which results in inadequate blood pumping.

Plaques, which are fatty deposits that obstruct arteries, are the cause of heart attacks. Blood clots that form as a result of plaque rupture further obstruct the arteries. This frequently results in heart attacks. It is also called Myocardial infarction. There are instances where the cardiac muscles die from a lack of blood. If the patient does not receive quick medical care, this medical condition could be fatal.

What are the causes of Heart Failure and Heart Attack?

Coronary artery disease

The most prevalent type of heart illness is coronary artery disease (CAD), in which cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart arteries and impede blood flow to the heart muscles. Angina, or chest pain, is brought on by this and eventually leads to heart failure.

History of heart attack (myocardial infarction)

A person who has already experienced a heart attack may be more susceptible to experiencing heart muscle damage once more. This has additional effects on the body’s ability to pump enough blood as needed.

High Blood pressure

The heart must pump blood more forcefully than usual to ensure blood circulation in a patient with uncontrolled high blood pressure. Over time, this weakens the heart and may cause heart failure.

Abnormal heart valves

Congenital heart valve abnormalities can result from any type of infection or other cardiac diseases. Because the valves do not fully open or close, heart failure is caused because the heart muscle must pump more forcefully to maintain blood circulation.

Heart muscle disease

Heart failure risk is increased by conditions including dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocarditis (inflammation) brought on by specific illnesses, excessive alcohol intake, and drug usage.

Congenital heart disease

While the remainder of the muscle is healthy, some people suffer congenital abnormalities in the heart or one of its chambers. In these circumstances, the heart must work harder than usual to pump blood, increasing the risk of heart failure.

Lung disease

When a person has serious lung illness, the demand on the heart to provide a sufficient flow of oxygen to the rest of the body is significantly enhanced. Heart failure risks increase as heart workload increases.

Diabetes

Due to high blood lipid levels, diabetic patients are more likely to develop hypertension and atherosclerosis, which raises the risk of heart failure.

Obesity

Compared to someone with ideal body weight, an obese person’s heart has to work harder. Additionally, sleep apnea and cardiomyopathy are caused by obesity and raise the risk of heart failure.

Anemia

Low red blood cell counts put the heart under stress because it has to work harder to deliver oxygen to the body by moving fewer cells more quickly.

Hyperthyroidism

an overactive thyroid gland causes the body to work at a faster pace, hence the heart has to work faster, gradually leading to a weak heart

On the other hand, a heart attack happens when the blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off. The following are the reasons for obstruction:

  • Atherosclerosis – coronary artery narrowing brought on by an accumulation of fatty material (plaque). Plaques that break can also result in blood clots that clog coronary arteries.
  • Coronary artery spasm – This is the sudden stiffening or constriction of the coronary artery brought on by intense stress, cold weather, or smoking.
  • Coronary artery dissection – separation of the coronary artery’s inner wall, which furthers the blood flow restriction.
  • Obesity
  • An unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking

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