This is a condition in which the coronary arteries develop blockages, making them clogged and narrowed, and resulting in restricted flow of blood. Calcium, proteins and other cells start sticking around the vessel wall and gradually block the arteries as well as the flow of blood. Thus, depriving the heart of oxygen and other vital nutrients. The severity of the plaque accumulated around these vessels result in three serious conditions, including:

Unstable angina: In this condition, the patient experiences frequent chest pain. The pain however subsides with medication but isn’t fully cured.

Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) or non-wave MI: This is a less severe heart attack in which the coronary artery gets occluded by a blood clot. The heart muscles that get their supply from the clogged artery eventually become infracted causing serious damage. NSTEMI can be diagnosed by a electrocardiogram (ECG) test.

ST segment elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI) or Q-wave MI: This condition is caused after a prolonged inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart. This affects a large number of heart muscles and the condition becomes more critical.

When there is a sudden blockage in an artery supplying blood to the heart, then a heart attack occurs as the heart doesn’t get adequate blood supply. A heart attack can either be mild or severe and the heart muscles are damaged accordingly. The damaged part lays the foundation for congestive heart failure.

Due to arterial blockage and blood flow problems, infections, drug abuse, excessive alcohol intake, damage heart muscles causing cardimyopathy. The heart muscles become weak and its blood pumping capacity is reduced.

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is again a disease that results from reduced supply of oxygen to the heart, thereby, depriving it of vital oxygen and essential vitamins. The patient suffers from acute chest pain whenever he exerts himself or gets emotional. One can diagnose this disease through ECG/EKG as well as chest X-ray and blood tests.

Tobacco smoking is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure. It not only affects the heart but also triggers COPD, strokes and several other diseases. Tobacco smoking has been estimated to be the cause of approximately 6 million deaths every year. The tar from the cigarette gets accumulated in the lungs as well as on vein and heart wall, causing congestive heart failure.

High blood pressure is one of the major causes of congestive heart failure. During this medical condition, the blood pressure increases tremendously. The heart has to work extra hard and pump more blood through the blood vessels, resulting in irreversible damage and heart muscle fatigue. There are several reasons that cause hypertension which include lifestyle factors, genetics and stress.

Obesity, in itself, is a disease that has engulfed a major part of our society. It is also the most prevalent cause of congestive heart failure. Obesity causes alterations in cardiac hemodynmaics as well as morphology, that eventually lead to congestive heart failure. It also induces severe alterations in ventricular functions. When a person gains a lot of weight, the blood pressure gets elevated automatically. Moreover, fat also starts accumulating in the arteries and vessels, causing blockage and limited supply of oxygen to heart muscles. All these aliments lead to a number of diseases including congestive heart failure. If some recent surveys in leading medical journals are to be believed, obesity contributes to 8 percent of all congestive heart failure cases around the world.