Researchers said possible reasons for the decline include improvements in treating risk factors, increased access to appropriate medical care and changes in death certificate coding. Kathy Harben of the CDC said doctor education is still an obstacle in treating heart failure. She said that while cardiologists know that drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, can help the condition, general practitioners may not. Also, heart failure often doesn't get as much attention as heart attacks and stroke. Uncontrolled high blood pressure and heart attacks are the biggest underlying causes of heart failure.
Heart failure happens when the weakened heart can no longer pump a sufficient amount of blood.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is the leading cause of hospital admissions in people over age 65. The association figures from 1993 show that blacks are about 40 percent more likely than whites to die of heart failure. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.