Weak heart is a disorder of the heart muscle that causes the heart cannot pump blood optimally or it is difficult to maintain its normal rhythm. There are different types of heart failure that have different causes and symptoms.
In heart failure or cardiomyopathy, there are disorders that cause the heart muscle to become thinner, thicker, or stiffer. This condition makes the heart's pumping power weaken and causes a number of symptoms, such as shortness of breath, swollen legs due to fluid buildup, irregular heart rhythm, dizziness, or fainting.
These are the Kinds of Weak Hearts
Different types of heart weakness, different symptoms that appear. So that you can be aware of it, consider the following explanation of the various types of heart failure and their causes and symptoms.
1. Weak heart type dilated
This is the most common type of heart failure. Dilated type of heart weakness usually affects people aged 20-60 years, and sufferers have a high risk of developing heart failure.
This type of heart muscle disorder often begins in the left ventricle of the heart, the chamber of the heart that plays a role in pumping blood throughout the body. In dilated type of heart weakness, the left ventricular muscle gradually becomes thinner and looser, so that the ventricular space is widened and it is difficult to pump blood. In addition, the right ventricle and atria of the heart can also be affected.
Dilated type of heart weakness is usually caused by:
- Coronary heart disease and heart attack
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Thyroid disease and diabetes
- Certain viral infections that cause inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Pregnancy complications
- Poison, like cobalt or certain drugs
2. Weak heart type hypertrophic
In this type of heart failure, the heart muscle cells in the left ventricle enlarge, so that the walls of the ventricles become thicker and the space inside narrows.
This condition reduces the amount of blood pumped throughout the body because the heart muscle is stiffer so that the pumping power is weak and the narrow left ventricular space can only accommodate less blood to be pumped. In addition, heart muscle that is too thick can block or block blood flow.
Hypertrophic type of heart weakness is often caused by the presence of abnormal genes in the cells of the heart muscle. Symptoms that often appear include chest pain, shortness of breath, easy fatigue, edema in the leg area, dizziness, or fainting. Symptoms can continue to worsen over time and lead to fatal complications, such as heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) and sudden death.
3. Weak heart type ARVD
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVD) is a type of heart failure characterized by the death of heart muscle cells in the right ventricle. These cells are then replaced by scar tissue or fatty tissue. This condition can interfere with the heart's electrical flow, causing arrhythmias.
ARVD is common in adolescents or young adults. This type of heart failure is thought to be caused by mutations in certain genes that are inherited from parents. Symptoms that appear can be heart palpitations (palpitations) or fainting after the sufferer does physical activity.
Some research suggests that vigorous exercise can worsen ARVD symptoms. This type of heart failure is the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes from cardiac arrest.
4. Weak heart restrictive type
Of the various types of heart failure, this type is the least common. In restrictive heart failure, the heart muscles become stiffer and less elastic. As a result, the heart cannot relax normally after it has finished contracting. This causes blood can not fill the heart chambers perfectly.
The cause of restrictive heart failure is often unknown. However, some cases of this type of heart weakness are triggered by other diseases, such as:
- Hemochromatosis, which is an excessive accumulation of iron in the body
- Sarcoidosis, an abnormal buildup of inflammatory cells in the body's organs
- Amyloidosis, which is an abnormal buildup of protein in body tissues
- Cancer being treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Heart failure that is not caused by other diseases, including heart disease that is inherited genetically from parents, is called primary heart failure. Meanwhile, weak heart caused by other diseases, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, infections, toxins, or side effects of certain drugs, is called secondary heart weakness.
In addition to the types of heart failure mentioned above, there are actually other types of heart weakness that are not classified, but are very rare. If you experience symptoms of a weak heart, immediately consult a doctor. That way, treatment can be given as soon as possible before fatal consequences occur.
Written by:
dr. Irene Cindy Sunur