Due to MI.
Damaged heart muscle is not readily regenerated; replaced with scar tissue.
The tissue cannot contract or contribute to pumping activity.
So CO goes down.
Blood pools in the left ventricle and backs up into the pulmonary veins.
This increases BP in the pulmonary circulation and forces fluid out of the blood into lungs.
This fluid accumulates in the lung spaces and reduces O2/CO2 exchange.
In severe CHF the patient literally “drowns” in their own fluid.
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