In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscles become thick and contract with difficulty. Some research indicates that this occurs because of a genetic defect that causes a loss of power in heart muscle cells and, subsequently, diminished pumping strength. To compensate for this power loss, the heart muscle cells grow. This rare condition is the cause of many occurrences of sudden death in young athletes. Other Causes Chronic alcohol abuse can damage the heart muscles, cause hypertension, and appears to be a cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Severe emphysema is a major cause of right-sided congestive heart failure.
Other less common causes of heart failure include excessive salt consumption, hyperthyroidism, thiamin deficiency, pneumonia, high fever, and failure of the liver or kidneys. Rarely, a viral infection of the heart muscle, known as acute myocarditis, produces temporary, but potentially life-threatening, heart failure. Heart Failure Caused by Corrective Mechanism High blood pressure and the failing heart itself trigger a number of hormonal and neurochemical mechanisms to correct imbalances in pressure and blood flow. Unfortunately, while these corrective responses help in the short term, they increase the work of the heart and can do considerable damage over the long term. These hormones flood the heart, causing it to beat faster.