Congestive heart failure (CHF) is caused by conditions that damage or weaken the heart muscle, making it unable to pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs. The main causes include:

• Coronary artery disease and heart attack: Blockage of arteries reduces blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to damage and weakened pumping ability

• High blood pressure (hypertension): Forces the heart to work harder, causing mechanical stress and eventually weakening it

• Heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathy): Includes dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathies that impair heart function

• Heart valve problems: Abnormalities or damage to heart valves increase the workload on the heart, leading to failure

• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats, especially if frequent or fast, can weaken the heart muscle

• Congenital heart defects: Structural heart abnormalities present from birth can cause the heart to work harder and fail over time

• Other factors: Viral infections (myocarditis), excessive alcohol or drug use, obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, and some medications can also contribute to heart failure

In summary, congestive heart failure results from a combination of heart damage, increased workload, and weakened heart muscle due to various cardiovascular diseases, lifestyle factors, and systemic conditions