When the heart’s muscle is weakened or injured due to a heart attack, it can make it hard for the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Over time, it can lead to heart failure, where the heart’s function drops below 40%. The condition affects an estimated 6.7 million people over the age of 20 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 50% of patients with heart failure die within five years of developing the condition, and there’s no cure to stop this disease from progressing.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
