Which of the following is a cause of heart failure?

• A. All of the above
• B. Hypertension
• C. Valve disease
• D. Viral illness

Answer: (A)

Heart failure happens when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Hypertension increases the pressure the heart must pump against, which over time makes the heart muscle thicken or stiffen and eventually fail to relax or contract effectively. Valve disease causes abnormal blood flow and overload—either more pressure or more volume—putting extra strain on the heart and impairing its pumping ability. Viral illnesses can directly damage the heart muscle (myocarditis), weakening its contractions. Since each of these conditions can lead to heart failure, the best answer is that all of the above are causes.