Four Ways That Anemia Can Harm The Heart and Lead To Heart Failure

1. Reduced Delivery of Oxygen:

The red blood cells’ hemoglobin is in charge of transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and organs, including the heart. Less oxygen reaches the heart muscle when anemia results in low hemoglobin levels. This can result in myocardial ischemia, a disorder where the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen to perform at its best.

2. Elevated Heart Rate:

The heart may compensate for reduced oxygen delivery by beating faster (tachycardia), pumping more blood and oxygen to meet the body’s needs. Over time, this increased cardiac stress may cause strain and may play a role in the development of illnesses including palpitations, chest pain, or even heart failure.

3. Arrhythmias:

People who are anemic may be more susceptible to irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias. Anemia-related electrolyte imbalances and elevated cardiac workloads can interfere with the heart’s normal electrical activity and produce arrhythmias such ventricular or atrial fibrillation.

4. Variations in Cardiac Output:

Anemia may also have an impact on cardiac output, or the amount of blood the heart pumps out in a minute. In an attempt to make up for its reduced ability to deliver oxygen, the heart may first try to boost cardiac output. On the other hand, if the anemia is severe or persistent, the heart may eventually become less effective, resulting in a reduction in cardiac output and symptoms such as weakness, exhaustion, and dyspnea.