CHF is typically caused by the inability of the heart to pump out enough blood from the heart, preventing any blood flow from backing up in your system. You're more likely to develop CHF if you already have diseases such as coronary artery disease (which involves blockages in the arteries that channel blood to your heart) or if you have suffered a heart attack. A heart attack can starve the heart of oxygen, rendering it less capable of pumping blood correctly and causing problems with circulation.You're also statistically more likely to develop CHF if you suffer from high blood pressure. This forces the heart to do extra work and become harder and stiffer over time. This causes the heart to be less able to properly relax and tires the muscle over time.