The primary risk factors for heart failure are high blood pressure (hypertension) and vascular occlusion (atherosclerosis). To prevent this condition, it is critically important to avoid factors that lead to high blood pressure and vascular blockages. High blood pressure causes the heart to work constantly against increased pressure, leading over time to the fatigue, thickening, and ultimate loss of function of the heart muscle. Vascular occlusions, on the other hand, restrict blood flow to the heart, causing the heart muscle to be deprived of sufficient oxygen, leading to tissue damage and impaired contractile functions.