Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. To compensate, the heart enlarges, develops more muscle mass and pumps faster. The body also tries to make up for heart failure by narrowing blood vessels to keep blood pressure up. It diverts blood away from the less important tissues and organs to maintain flow to the heart and brain.
Affecting the right, left or both sides of your heart, heart failure is a common complication of a heart attack and other heart conditions. Additional risk factors for heart failure include diabetes, obesity, smoking, a family history of heart disease and being age 65 or older.
The key to preventing heart failure is lowering your risk. Not sure where to start? See a cardiologist at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center. We provide advanced, complete care for heart failure in Goshen, IN, for people in Elkhart County and beyond.
If you are concerned about your heart, talk to your primary care provider about a heart screening. Or, if you want to talk to someone at the Heart & Vascular Center, call (574) 537-5000 to make an appointment.