Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms and SignsCausesWhen to See a ProviderTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms and Signs
Causes
When to See a Provider
Treatment
Prevention
This leads to reduced blood flow throughout the body, meaning organs and tissues—including the heart—don’t get an adequate supply of oxygen and vital nutrients.
This article discusses weak heart symptoms, causes, and when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Weak Heart Muscle Symptoms and Signs
In a healthy heart, blood is pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. The oxygen rich blood then travels from the lungs to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped out to the rest of the body.
Reduced blood flow to the kidneys is a particular concern, as it impairs their ability to regulate the excretion of fluids from the body. This leads to fluid retention and the buildup of fluids in the limbs, thorax (chest cavity), and lungs.
This can lead to an array of symptoms associated with a weak heart, including:
Narrowing of the arteries, high blood pressure, obesity, and lifestyle factors like smoking are a few of the possible causes of a weak heart. Sometimes, more than one condition may be at play.
The body’s ability to compensate for the effects these have on the heart may be beneficial initially, but the adaptations often contribute to the most serious cases of heart failure in the long run.
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.
Smokingis particularly noteworthy. The carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke not only damage the lungs, which are integral to the cardiac cycle, but also the heart muscle, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, chemicals in cigarette smoke change your blood chemistry, leading to changes such as blood vessel narrowing and plaque formation. 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.
Successfully Completing a Quit Smoking Program
Narrowing of the Arteries
Hardening and narrowing of the arteries(atherosclerosis) is when cholesterol and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form hard material called plaques.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)is the result of severe atherosclerosis and can become more problematic when the blood that is pumped out of the heart is not enough to support bodily functions.
Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias.
Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure(hypertension) forces your heart to work harder to pump blood. More forceful pumping of the heart leads to a thickening of the muscle, specifically the left ventricle, which can increase your risk of:
Sustained blood pressure above 120/80 mmHg for adults also narrows the arteries and enlarges the heart, compromising the structural integrity of the heart muscle.
An enlarged and weakened heart cannot pump blood efficiently throughout the body, making it impossible to meet the body’s demands.
9 High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Symptoms
Obesity
Obesityincreases cardiovascular risk because the body requires more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to vital tissues and organs. In order to meet this need, the body increases blood pressure.
Obesity is also associated with several medical conditions that put you at higher risk of heart disease, including:
Obesity may also increaseatherosclerosisand contribute to structural and functional changes of the heart, which weaken the heart. The altered structure increases the risk ofatrial fibrillationand sudden cardiac death.
Some studies have shown that overweight and mild levels of obesity may have a protective effect on the clinical outcome of some underlying cardiovascular diseases, a phenomenon called the obesity paradox. However, the dangers of obesity far outweigh any purported benefit.
Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defectsare structural problems of the heart that are present at birth and may change the way the heart works.
A normal heart hasvalves, arteries, and chambersthat circulate blood in a cyclical pattern: body to heart, heart to lungs, lungs to heart, and then heart out to the body.
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.
Congenital heart defects range in severity from small holes between chambers to the complete absence of one or more chambers or valves. The greater the severity of the malformation, the greater the likelihood of developing a weakened heart and long-term complications.
Chemotherapy
Certain types of chemotherapy treatments can contribute to a weakened heart. These medications can cause the left chamber of the heart to become enlarged, limiting its ability to pump blood.
Chemotherapy medications that may cause a weak heart include:
These drugs are more likely to cause a weakened heart in people who have a history of heart issues. If chemotherapy is contributing to cardiomyopathy, a healthcare provider may recommend altering your treatment regimen.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Signs and symptoms of a weakened heart may be subtle and easily missed. They can also be inadvertently associated with a more benign condition and even normal aging.
Seek medical attention if you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms.Even if your symptoms do not signal immediate danger, they may be a warning sign of a larger problem down the line.
If you wait until you experienceobvious symptoms of heart failurebefore seeing a healthcare professional, the condition may already be life threatening.
Treatment for a Weak Heart
Treating the underlying cause of your weak heart is the best way to mitigate symptoms and improve your activity level. Treatment options include:
The use of one or several medications aimed at reducing the fluid load on the heart may further help. These include:
Because genetics may play a role in heart health, some people may not be able to completelyprevent a weak heart. Still, creating heart-healthy habits can help everyone reduce their chances of developing cardiomyopathy.
Control Blood Pressure
The goal of a heart-healthy lifestyle is to keep your blood pressure around 120/80 mmHg. This ensures that your heart is not overworking itself.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure also lowers the risk of the following:
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet that is full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, and vegetable oils is the best way to prevent heart disease.
Limiting red meat, refined carbohydrates, highly processed foods, and alcohol also goes a long way in keeping your heart healthy.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Diets for Heart Health
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Some studies have found that waist size and excess weight—markers of obesity—are the biggest risk factors for coronary artery disease.
BMI, Waist Circumference, or Waist-To-Hip Ratio?
Exercise
Exercising keeps the heart strong and helps the blood to circulate optimally, counteracting the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system to some degree.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a weekto prevent heart failure.
Getting in regular physical activity has so many benefits, such as lowering the risk of:
Not to mention, exercise has the added benefits of:
Monitor Drug Interactions
While managing your symptoms of heart failure may require that you take more than one medication, several commonly used prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements can interact dangerously.
This can intensify heart failure symptoms and put you at risk of developing life-threatening complications.
To be on the safe side:
Some common medications that may be problematic include:
Summary
Many conditions can cause a weakened heart muscle, a condition known as cardiomyopathy. This impacts both blood flow to and out of the heart, depriving the body from oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly.
You may not notice initial symptoms of a weak heart. But if you are feeling more fatigued than usual, unusual aches and pains, are lightheaded, or have chest pain, seek immediate medical attention.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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