Despite the name, cardiac asthma is not a type of asthma. Rather, it refers to difficulty breathing caused by fluid buildup in the lungs as a result of heart failure. Cardiac asthma can be life-threatening; So proper diagnosis is critical. In reading the following article, we will talk about everything you need to know about the symptoms of cardiac asthma, and how it can be diagnosed and treated.

What is cardiac asthma?

Cardiac asthma is a group of asthma-like respiratory symptoms caused by congestive heart failure. People with cardiac asthma typically experience fluid buildup in the lungs, impairing their ability to supply the blood with oxygen.

The heart has four chambers: the left atrium, the left ventricle, the right atrium, and the right ventricle. In people with congestive heart failure, the heart can’t pump blood properly from the left ventricle or the pressure in the ventricle is high.

This leads to a disturbance of blood flow and an increase in blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, and thus fluid leakage and accumulation, thus causing symptoms of cardiac asthma.

What are the symptoms of cardiac asthma?

Symptoms of cardiac asthma include:

• wheezing in the chest;
• Difficulty and shortness of breath, especially when lying down.
• rapid breathing;
• coughing;
• bloody or foamy sputum;
• Rattle, which are abnormal sounds heard when listening to the lung with a stethoscope.
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, a condition in which the patient wakes up at night gasping for air.

In addition, cardiac asthma symptoms may be the initial symptoms of heart failure, or they may be present with other signs of heart failure, such as:

• chest pain;
• fainting;
• Fatigue.
• Irregular heart rate.
• Skin that appears blue.
• Swelling in the legs, feet or ankles.
• Weight gain from fluid retention.
• An increased need to urinate, often at night.

Diagnosis of heart disease

After identifying the symptoms of cardiac asthma, we will learn how to diagnose it, which is a difficult process; This is due to the similarity of cardiac asthma with asthma; So misdiagnosis may be common in this case.

But to distinguish between the two, your doctor is likely to start by looking at your medical history and risk factors. To determine if heart failure is the cause, in addition to performing the following tests, which help the doctor in the diagnosis process:

• Physical exam To look for other signs of cardiac asthma and heart failure, such as abnormal sounds in the lungs when breathing and an abnormal heart rate.
• Blood tests It helps diagnose conditions that can lead to heart failure, and checks for signs of fluid excess.
• Electrocardiogram: Monitor the electrical activity of the heart and help identify abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm.
• Echocardiogram: A type of ultrasound to produce an image of the heart, which helps show how much blood your heart is pumping and detect any abnormalities in its pumping function.
• Chest X-ray: They can help identify enlarged heart or fluid in the lungs.
• Breathing tests: These include a spirometry test or a peak flow test to detect lung problems.
• Other imaging techniques: These include the use of a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan); To produce images to assess heart health.

How can cardiac asthma be treated?

Cardiac asthma treatment involves first treating the underlying heart condition. Monitoring cardiac asthma symptoms is key. Your treatment plan may include:

• taking diuretics; to remove fluids.
• taking nitrates and morphine; To reduce pressure on the heart.
• Take a group of medicines called inotropes.
• Undergoing surgery to repair or replace a heart valve.
• Avoid lying down by keeping the head elevated.
• Reduce sodium levels in the diet.
• Do gentle daily exercises.
• Drink less fluid.

The person may also need:

• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Do more physical activity.
• Reduce stress.
• Promote mental health.

Does asthma affect the heart?

According to some new research, asthma can double your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack, stroke, or a related condition.

Taking a daily asthma medication can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 60% over 10 years.