Cardiac Asthma

What is cardiac asthma? • Cardiac asthma is not caused by inhaled irritants. • It results from heart disease leading to fluid buildup in the lungs. • This fluid causes: o Shortness of breath o Wheezing o Coughing • The most common cause is congestive heart failure. • Heart failure means the heart can’t meet the body’s blood demands.

Cardiac asthma vs. bronchial asthma Bronchial asthma: • A chronic lung disease. • Caused by airway inflammation and narrowing. • Triggered by: o Dust o Air pollution o Other irritants

Cardiac asthma:

·       Caused by fluid accumulation in the lungs.

·       Related to heart dysfunction, not airway disease.

Who is affected?

·       People with congestive heart failure.

·       Symptoms worsen as heart failure progresses.

·       Even mild exertion may cause breathing difficulty.

Risk factors include:

·       High blood pressure

·       Diabetes

·       Heart valve disease

·       Angina

·       Previous heart attack

How does cardiac asthma affect the body?

·       Fluid in the lungs makes breathing difficult.

·       Symptoms worsen when lying flat.

·       Breathing improves when sitting or standing.

Symptoms

·       Waking at night with shortness of breath

·       Wheezing

·       Cough:

o   Dry

o   With mucus

o   Occasionally with blood

Causes

·       Heart failure leads to pulmonary hypertension.

·       This causes pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).

·       Fluid buildup results in cardiac asthma symptoms.

Diagnosis

·       Medical history

·       Physical examination

·       Diagnostic testing

Tests may include:

·       Blood and urine tests

·       ECG

·       Echocardiogram

·       Chest X-ray

·       Cardiopulmonary stress testing

·       Cardiac catheterization

·       Cardiac CT

·       MRI

Treatment

·       Exercise programs

·       Medications

·       Cardiac rehabilitation

·       Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

·       Biventricular pacemaker

·       Left ventricular assist device

·       Heart transplant

Medications

·       ACE inhibitors

·       Beta blockers

·       Diuretics

·       SNRIs

·       Aldosterone blockers

·       SGLT2 inhibitors

Risk reduction

·       Control blood pressure and diabetes

·       Maintain a healthy weight

·       Manage stress

·       Exercise regularly

·       Eat heart-healthy foods

·       Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs