If the heart fails to contract normally, blood will not circulate
effectively through the lungs. When the heart malfunctions, fluid
and blood often accumulate in the lungs. This build-up in the lungs
is congestive heart failure and can often be detected on a chest
x-ray.
A wide assortment of heart problems can cause congestive heart
failure and breathing difficulty. Previous heart attacks or diseases
of the heart muscle may prevent normal circulation of blood into
the lungs, leading to accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Narrowing
or leakage of the valves of the heart may also prevent blood from
flowing normally, which results in trouble catching one’s
breath. Blockage and narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to
the muscle of the heart (coronary artery disease) may also impair
the heart’s ability to contract resulting in poor blood flow
and the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (congestive heart failure).