What Are The Causes of Heart Health Issues

A variety of factors can contribute to heart disease, including lifestyle decisions, genetic predispositions, and environmental effects. Understanding the many causes of these heart issues is critical for successful prevention and management. The terrain of heart health issues is complex, encompassing everything from the importance of nutrition and exercise in supporting cardiovascular wellness to the impact of stress, smoking, and underlying medical illnesses like hypertension and diabetes.

In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the numerous causes of heart disease, providing light on the linked elements that influence cardiovascular health. By unraveling the complex web of effects, we hope to provide readers with the information they need to make informed decisions and establish heart-healthy behaviors for a lifetime of well-being.

Table of Contents

Causes of Arrhythmia

To understand the causes of heart arrhythmias, it may be useful to understand how the heart functions.

How does the heart beat? A normal heart contains four chambers:

The two top chambers are known as the atria.
The two lowest chambers are known as the ventricles.

The heartbeat is controlled by the heart’s electrical system. The electrical signals of the heart originate in the sinus node, a clump of cells located at the top of the heart. They flow through the atrioventricular (AV) node, which connects the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The passage of signals leads the heart to contract and pump blood.

In a healthy heart, this heart-signaling process normally runs smoothly, resulting in a resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

However, certain conditions can alter how electrical signals pass through the heart, resulting in arrhythmias. They include:

A heart attack or scars from a prior heart attack – A myocardial infarction happens when blood flow to a portion of the heart is interrupted, damaging tissue. Scars from a previous heart attack may suggest cardiac muscle injury, affecting function and risking additional difficulties.
Coronary artery disease is a condition characterized by blocked arteries in the heart – Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque obstructs heart arteries. This obstruction can impair heart muscle blood flow, causing chest discomfort, heart attacks, and other cardiac issues.
Heart structural changes, such as those caused by cardiomyopathy – The heart’s muscle structure and function can be altered by cardiomyopathy, causing shortness of breath, tiredness, and heart failure.
Diabetes – High blood sugar levels in diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves, causing heart, kidney, eye, and neurological issues. Proper blood sugar management and lifestyle changes reduce diabetes-related cardiovascular problems.
High blood pressure – Hypertension, or high blood pressure, strains the heart and can cause heart disease, stroke, and renal difficulties. Lifestyle and medication management are essential to decreasing cardiovascular events.
Infection with COVID-19 – This can induce respiratory distress, pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and death. Prevention strategies like immunization, mask-wearing, and social distancing help control the infection and reduce its health impact.
The thyroid gland can be overactive or underactive – Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism alter hormone balance and can cause weight changes, lethargy, and heart difficulties. Proper diagnosis and treatment, frequently with medication or hormone therapy, are crucial for thyroid diseases and overall health.
Sleep Apnea – Sleep apnea causes sleep disturbances and low blood oxygen levels due to breathing pauses or shallow breathing. Sleep apnea can cause hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues if ignored.
Some medications, including those for colds and allergies – Cold and allergy drugs can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can harm cardiovascular health. To reduce medication risks, visit a doctor and follow dosage directions.
Consuming too much alcohol or coffee – Alcohol and coffee can raise blood pressure and strain the heart, causing hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. Moderate and thoughtful use of these substances is necessary for heart health and well-being.
Illegal drug usage or misuse – Cocaine and methamphetamine use can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. Drug misuse prevention, including education and addiction treatment, is essential to public health.
Genetics – Some hereditary factors predispose people to cardiovascular disorders such as excessive blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. Family history and regular testing can help detect and treat genetic heart disease risk factors.
Smoking – Smoking destroys blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and causes arterial plaque, making it a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to lower heart disease risk and improve health.
Stress or worry – Chronic stress can raise blood pressure, heart rate, and risk of heart disease. Mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation can reduce these effects and improve heart health.

Causes of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a slow-progressing disease that can begin as early as childhood. The specific cause remains unknown. It could begin with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery. The damage could be caused by:

High Blood Pressure – Hypertension strains the heart and can cause heart disease, stroke, and kidney difficulties. Reducing cardiovascular events requires lifestyle and medication changes.
High cholesterol – High cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can cause arterial plaque, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Diet, exercise, and medication are often needed to control cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.
High triglycerides are a form of fat (lipid) in the blood – High blood triglycerides, a form of fat, increase heart disease risk, especially when paired with obesity and insulin resistance. Lifestyle adjustments like diet, exercise, and medication may lower triglycerides and cardiovascular risk.
Smoking or chewing tobacco – Tobacco smoke contains harmful substances that damage blood arteries, increase heart rate, and raise blood pressure, greatly raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Avoiding tobacco and quitting smoking is essential to minimizing these risks and enhancing cardiovascular health.
Diabetes – Diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves, affecting the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Lifestyle changes and blood sugar management reduce diabetes-related cardiovascular complications.
Insulin resistance – Insulin resistance causes cells to become less receptive to insulin, raising blood sugar and risking type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Weight loss, exercise, and diet can enhance insulin sensitivity and lower health risks.
Obesity – Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Obesity-related health issues can be prevented and managed by eating well and exercising regularly.

Inflammation from unknown causes or diseases including arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or IBD. After an injury, blood cells and other substances may gather in an artery’s inner lining.

The inside walls of cardiac arteries acquire lipids, cholesterol, and other substances over time. This buildup is plaque. Plaque can narrow arteries and reduce blood flow. Broken plaque can cause blood clots.

Heart attack damage and pump dysfunction can develop cardiomyopathy, weakening heart muscles, and other consequences.

Causes of Cardiomyopathy

Frequently, the cause of cardiomyopathy is unknown. However, it can also occur as a result of another condition. This is referred to as acquired cardiomyopathy. Other people are born with cardiomyopathy due to a gene passed down from their parents. This is known as hereditary cardiomyopathy.

Acquired cardiomyopathy can result from the following health conditions or behaviors:

Chronic high blood pressure – Chronic high blood pressure makes the heart work harder, thickening the heart muscle and impairing function.
A heart attack causes damage to the heart tissue – Heart attack damage and pump dysfunction can develop cardiomyopathy, weakening heart muscles, and other consequences.
Long-term, fast heart rate – Long-term tachycardia can strain cardiac muscles and cause cardiomyopathy.
Heart valve issues – Stenosis and regurgitation can impair blood flow, putting stress on the heart and potentially damaging heart muscle cells, which can lead to cardiomyopathy.
COVID-19 infection – COVID-19 infection can cause cardiomyopathy by direct viral damage to heart tissue, inflammation, and immune system reactions, which weaken heart muscles and decrease cardiac function.
Certain infections, particularly those causing cardiac inflammation – Infections that cause cardiac inflammation can cause an immunological response that destroys heart muscle cells, producing cardiomyopathy and other problems.
Metabolic problems include obesity, thyroid disease, and diabetes – Obesity, thyroid illness, and diabetes change metabolic pathways, increase inflammation, and promote oxidative stress, which can cause cardiomyopathy.
A lack of important vitamins or minerals in the diet, such as thiamine (vitamin B-1) – Thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency can decrease cardiac muscle function and cause cardiomyopathy.
Pregnancy problems – Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and delivery difficulties can stress the heart and cause cardiomyopathy.
Hemochromatosis is a condition in which iron accumulates in the heart muscle – This is a disorder characterized by excessive iron accumulation, which can damage the heart muscle and cause cardiomyopathy.
Granulomas are small lumps of inflammatory cells that can develop anywhere in the body. Sarcoidosis is the name given to this condition that occurs in the lungs or heart.
The accumulation of aberrant proteins in the organs is known as amyloidosis.
Connective tissue diseases – Connective tissue illnesses like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause cardiac tissue inflammation and scarring, causing cardiomyopathy.
Long-term excessive alcohol consumption – Chronic alcoholism can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which weakens heart muscles and impairs cardiac function.
Use of cocaine, amphetamines, or anabolic steroids – Cocaine, amphetamines, and anabolic steroids can cause cardiomyopathy and other heart problems.
Cancer treatment that involves the use of chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation – Chemotherapy and radiation can damage heart tissue and impede cardiac function, causing cardiomyopathy.

Congenital Heart Defect Causes

The etiology of most CHDs in newborns is unknown. Some babies suffer cardiac problems as a result of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. Some congenital heart diseases are passed down through families (inherited). CHDs are also hypothesized to be caused by a combination of heredity and environmental factors:

The mother’s nutrition, health status, or medication use during pregnancy – These can affect fetal development and raise congenital heart defect risk.
Certain maternal diseases, such as pre-existing diabetes or obesity, have been related to cardiac abnormalities in the newborn. – Due to their effects on fetal development and cardiovascular system construction, maternal illnesses might increase the risk of cardiac problems in neonates.
Smoking during pregnancy, as well as using certain drugs, has been related to cardiac abnormalities – These chemicals can cause heart structural defects and fetal growth problems.

Understanding congenital heart defects reveals the complex genetic-environmental interaction that produces them. Genetic predispositions are important, but maternal health, pollutants, and drugs during pregnancy sometimes cause congenital cardiac abnormalities. Preventing and targeting congenital cardiac problems requires understanding these complex causes.

Coronary Artery Disease Causes

Coronary artery disease most commonly develops when plaque accumulates in the coronary arteries. Several illnesses or lifestyle practices might contribute to plaque accumulation, including:

Diabetes – Diabetes damages blood vessels and increases plaque buildup in the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart, and increasing the risk of coronary artery disease.
A diet rich in salt or sugar – Salt and sugar in the diet can cause hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance, which raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
High blood pressure (hypertension) – Hypertension strains the heart and damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
High cholesterol – High cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol, can cause plaque development in the arteries, narrowing them and raising the risk of coronary heart disease and accompanying consequences.
Sedentary lifestyle – Sedentary lifestyles raise the risk of coronary artery disease by causing obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Smoking – The risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events is greatly increased by smoking, which destroys blood vessels, causes inflammation, and accelerates atherosclerosis.

Poor oral hygiene, intravenous drug use, reduced immune function, and some medical procedures can further raise heart infection risk. Preventing and treating heart infections requires understanding these complex causes.

Heart Infection Causes

Several microbiological pathogens and predisposing factors can be causes of heart infections. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can invade cardiac tissue via circulatory spread or direct invasion from neighboring tissues. Poor oral hygiene, intravenous drug use, reduced immune function, and some medical procedures can further raise heart infection risk. Preventing and treating heart infections requires understanding these complex causes.

Endocarditis causes:

Poor dental hygiene: Bacteria from bleeding gums can enter the bloodstream, reaching the heart and causing infection.
Dental procedures: Cuts in the gums during dental work provide a pathway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and infect the heart.
Catheters: Bacteria can enter the body through catheters used for fluid removal or injection, leading to bloodstream infections and subsequent endocarditis.
IV drug use: Sharing needles or syringes increases the risk of bacterial entry into the bloodstream, potentially causing endocarditis.

Pericarditis causes:

Viral infection: Respiratory or gastrointestinal viruses can lead to inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.
Bacterial infection: Pathogens like tuberculosis bacteria can cause pericarditis, especially in regions with high prevalence.
Fungal infection: Fungi can infect the pericardium, causing inflammation and discomfort.
Parasite infection: Parasites can invade the pericardium, triggering inflammation and pericarditis.
Autoimmune diseases: Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma can lead to inflammation of the pericardium.

Less common causes of pericarditis include:

Chest injury: Trauma, such as that sustained in car accidents, can cause inflammation of the pericardium.
Kidney failure: Uremic toxins can lead to pericarditis, especially in individuals with advanced kidney disease.
Tumors: Cancerous growths near the heart can trigger pericardial inflammation.
Genetic diseases: Conditions like familial Mediterranean fever can predispose individuals to pericarditis.
Immune system-suppressing medications: Certain drugs used to manage autoimmune conditions can increase the risk of pericarditis.

Myocarditis causes:

Viral infections: Various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, coxsackievirus, parvovirus, adenovirus, and hepatitis C, can lead to inflammation of the heart muscle.
Bacterial infections: Bacteria such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, tick-borne bacteria, and tuberculosis can cause myocarditis.
Fungal infections: Fungi from sources like yeast, mold, and bird droppings can infect the myocardium.
Parasite infection: Parasites, especially in regions like Central and South America, can invade the heart muscle, leading to myocarditis.
Autoimmune diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can trigger inflammation of the heart muscle.

Less common causes of myocarditis include:

Allergic reactions to medications: Antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, and cancer drugs can occasionally induce myocarditis as an allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions to recreational drugs: Certain recreational drugs can lead to allergic myocarditis.
Radiation: Exposure to radiation therapy, particularly to the chest area, can cause inflammation of the heart muscle.

Disclaimer: Please note that Discoverybody has taken great care to ensure that all information provided is comprehensive and up-to-date. However, you should not use this article as a substitute for the expertise that a licensed healthcare professional can offer. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking any medication.

Cardiomyopathy – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. (2024, February 21). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cardiomyopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370709

Atherosclerosis. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/atherosclerosis#:~:text=Atherosclerosis%20is%20thickening%20or%20hardening,activity%2C%20and%20eating%20saturated%20fats.

Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.). Heart Infection. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22054-heart-infection

Congenital heart disease in adults – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. (2023, April 21). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-congenital-heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20355456