Primary Causes: Nearly all cardiovascular diseases can eventually result in heart failure. Myocardial etc，damage, stemming from various factors like myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, hemodynamic overload, inflammation, ,can adversely affect the structure and function of the heart muscle, ultimately impairing ventricular pumping and/or filling function.

Inducing factors: Certain factors can trigger heart failure in certain individuals with underlying heart disease. Common causes of heart failure include：

1.   Infections like respiratory tract infections and rheumatic activity;
2. Severe arrhythmias, particularly rapid heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal tachycardia;
3. Increased cardiac workload due to factors like pregnancy, childbirth, rapid fluid infusion, and excessive sodium intake;
4. Medication effects, such as digitalis poisoning or inappropriate discontinuation of digitalis;
5. Inappropriate activities and excessive emotional states: Excessive physical activity and emotional excitement;
6. Other conditions such as pulmonary embolism, anemia, and papillary muscle insufficiency;  

Classification

  Heart failure can be classified clinically as either acute or chronic, depending on its urgency. It can also be categorized based on its location within the heart, such as left heart failure, right heart failure, or total heart failure. In addition, heart failure can be further distinguished as either systolic or diastolic.  

Acute Heart Failure:

Acute heart failure refers to a sudden drop in cardiac output due to acute myocardial damage or increased cardiac workload. This leads to elevated pressure in the pulmonary circulation, increased resistance in peripheral circulation, and subsequently results in pulmonary circulation congestion. This condition can cause acute pulmonary congestion, pulmonary edema, and may give rise to clinical syndromes associated with tissue and organ hypoperfusion, including cardiogenic shock. Among these, acute left heart failure is the most common. Acute heart failure can either be an acute worsening of pre-existing chronic heart failure or occur suddenly in a heart with normal cardiac function or in a compensatory stage. Most patients experiencing acute heart failure already have underlying cardiovascular diseases, with common triggers being acute myocarditis, extensive myocardial infarction, ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary artery main or large branch infarction, etc. It can manifest as either systolic heart failure or diastolic heart failure. Acute heart failure is often a life-threatening condition and necessitates immediate emergency intervention.

Chronic Heart Failure:

Chronic heart failure refers to an ongoing state of heart dysfunction that can remain stable, worsen, or deteriorate over time. It represents the advanced stage of heart disease with various underlying causes. This condition is a complex clinical syndrome characterized primarily by symptoms like shortness of breath, swelling (edema), and fatigue. However, these symptoms do not necessarily occur simultaneously. Compensatory responses in the form of cardiac enlargement or hypertrophy often come into play, accompanied by congestive pathological changes in organs due to elevated venous pressure. These changes may lead to the development of atrial and ventricular wall thrombosis as well as venous thrombosis. The primary causes of chronic heart failure in adults include coronary heart disease, hypertension, valvular disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy.