Short Commentary
Anurup Kumar
Abstract
Introduction: Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that affects the efficiency of the heart as a pump. The cause for heart failure may be structural or functional. There are approximately 920,000 people in the UK on an average who are suffering from either acute or chronic heart failure. Epidemiologically, the incidence and prevalence of heart failure has been increasing as a result of age and obesity. There are several causes for heart failure which include: Coronary heart disease–Atherosclerosis is the name denoted to the process whereby the arteries in the body get clogged with fatty material thus precipitating either angina or Myocardial infarction. High blood pressure – High blood pressure causes strain to be excessively placed on the heart thus precipitating heart failure Cardiomyopathy–conditions affecting the heart muscle causing it to stretch and resulting in excessive strain. Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular ectopics