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Narrow or leaking heart valves can also cause symptoms of heart failure without stiffening of the heart muscle. Primary valve disease can be caused by:
1.) Rheumatic fever
2.) High Blood pressure
3.) Heart Attack
4.) Endocarditis – inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually affecting the valves
5.) Diabetes
6.) Ageing
A disturbance in heart rhythm known as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) can also cause symptoms of heart failure. Sometimes if the rhythm can be reverted to a normal rhythm or the rate can be controlled then the symptoms of heart failure resolve.
However often AF and heart failure are closely linked and can happen at the same time because they have similar causes. Having AF increases your chances of Heart failure and having Heart Failure increases your chances of developing AF. Many of the causes for AF are listed above however others influencing factors include: smoking, excess alcohol, caffeine, and recreational drugs.
