Which condition is a common cause of acute heart failure?

Acute myocardial infarction is a common cause of acute heart failure because it leads to a sudden loss of cardiac muscle function due to ischemia. When the blood supply to a portion of the heart is blocked, typically by a clot in a coronary artery, the affected heart muscle begins to die, which compromises the heart's ability to pump effectively. This can result in a rapid onset of heart failure, as the heart struggles to meet the body's demands for blood and oxygen.

In cases of an acute myocardial infarction, the heart may not only experience a diminished ejection fraction but also exhibit complications such as arrhythmias or ventricular rupture, which can exacerbate the heart failure situation. The acute nature of the event typically presents with symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention, making it a critical condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

Other conditions, while they can lead to heart failure, generally do so over a longer period or as a result of chronic issues. For example, chronic valvular disease involves progressive changes to heart valves that can lead to heart failure over time, rather than acutely. Meanwhile, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy often present with chronic symptoms, and while they can lead to acute de