What results when the heart cannot supply enough blood to meet the oxygen demands of the body.?

When the heart cannot supply enough blood to meet the body’s oxygen needs, the result is heart failure. I know the Word sounds scary, but it simply means the heart is struggling to pump as strongly as the body needs.

When it happens, you may experience symptoms, such as feeling tired all the time, getting breathless even with light activity, swelling in the feet or legs, or feeling heaviness in the chest. These signs show that the organs and muscles are not getting the oxygen-rich blood they need.

Many conditions can lead to this situation. The most common ones are

• Coronary artery disease, where the blood vessels supplying the heart become narrow

• High blood pressure that forces the heart to work harder for years

• Damage from a heart attack

• Heart valve problems

• Cardiomyopathy which weakens the heart muscle

All of these can slowly reduce how well the heart pumps. If you notice these symptoms, it is always better to get checked early because timely treatment can really improve how the heart works.