7 Major Causes and Risk Factors for Heart Failure

1. Coronary artery disease (CAD): Narrowed/blocked coronary arteries → heart attack → damaged heart muscle.
2. High blood pressure: Forces heart to work harder → thickened, stiff muscle → failure.
3. Diabetes: Damages heart‑supplying vessels/nerves; often coexists with hypertension and obesity.
4. Obesity: Promotes insulin resistance → hypertension, diabetes, other risk factors.
5. Smoking: Damages vessels; increases heart disease and heart failure risk.
6. Alcohol abuse: Directly toxic to heart muscle; also raises BP and obesity risk.
7. Family history: Genetic predisposition combined with environmental factors increases susceptibility.