Chemotherapy is a common and efficient treatment used to destroy cancer cells, but it may damage healthy tissue that is critical to heart function. If you receive certain chemotherapies your heart function should be carefully checked by your doctor. Extra fluid may be given to the heart with some chemotherapy agents or drugs. The heart must work harder due to the extra fluid and this can contribute to heart failure. It is recommended to keep a list of the chemotherapy drugs you receive.

The following is a list of heart complications that may be caused by chemotherapy:

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels is too high causing the heart and blood vessels to work harder and less efficiently. High blood pressure may lead to serious damage and health conditions if steps are not taken to manage it. Two types of hypertension-pulmonary and resistant-may result if high blood pressure is not managed. The following can be done in order to lower the risk for developing hypertension: continual blood pressure testing, losing weight, eating less salt, taking medicine and being active.