This article discusses weak heart symptoms, causes, and when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
When the heart is weakened, it tries to compensate by pumping even faster.
Over time, this stretches or thickens the heart muscle, both of which can further weaken it.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Sometimes, more than one condition may be at play.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors are an important cause of a weakening heart.
This also means that heart disease may be preventable for many people.
Asedentary lifestyle, heavy alcohol use,andpoor dietput strain on the heart.
As pressure builds up, the heart muscle can thicken and lose its ability to pump effectively.
These can permanently damage your heart and blood vessels.
The impact of yourlifestyle on your heart healthis complex and multifactorial in nature.
For example, cigarette smoke not only weakens the heart muscle directly, but narrows the arteries.
Smoking is also associated with obesity and high blood pressure, other causes of a weak heart.
Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias.
to get to meet this need, the body increases blood pressure.
The altered structure increases the risk ofatrial fibrillationand sudden cardiac death.
However, the dangers of obesity far outweigh any purported benefit.
When this is thrown off, it can cause the underdeveloped heart to change shape and function less efficiently.
Pressure can build, and the heart muscle can weaken and fail as a result.
Chemotherapy
Certain types of chemotherapy treatments can contribute to a weakened heart.
If chemotherapy is contributing to cardiomyopathy, a healthcare provider may recommend altering your treatment regimen.
They can also be inadvertently associated with a more benign condition and even normal aging.
Still, creating heart-healthy habits can help everyone reduce their chances of developing cardiomyopathy.
This ensures that your heart is not overworking itself.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a weekto prevent heart failure.
This can intensify heart failure symptoms and put you at risk of developing life-threatening complications.
You may not notice initial symptoms of a weak heart.
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