Heart failure risks can increase according to a person's gender, ethnicity, and age. For example, African Americans are more likely to have heart failure and suffer more severely from it. Heart failure is also more common in people over 65 years of age. In addition, children born with congenital heart disease have higher heart failure risks than children without the condition.
Heart Failure Risks: An Introduction
- People 65 years of age and older
- African Americans
- Men.
Heart Failure Risks Pertaining to Age
Age is one of the heart failure risks. The condition is common in people who are 65 or older. It is the number one reason for a hospital visit in this age group.
Heart Failure Risks Pertaining to Ethnicity
African Americans are more likely to have heart failure and suffer more severely from it. African Americans are also more likely to:
- Develop symptoms at an earlier age
- Have their heart failure get worse faster
- Have more hospital visits
- Die from heart failure.
Heart Failure Risks Pertaining to Gender
Gender is another one of the heart failure risks. Men have a higher rate of heart failure than women. But in actual numbers, more women have heart failure because many more women live into their 70s and 80s (when heart failure becomes a more common condition).
Children With Heart Failure Risks
Children with congenital
heart disease can also get heart failure. Congenital heart disease happens when the heart, heart valves, and/or blood vessels near the heart do not develop correctly in babies when they are in the womb. This can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. Children do not have the same symptoms or get the same treatment for heart failure as adults.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print