Cardiac asthma, also known as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, is a medical condition characterised by sudden bouts of wheezing, breathlessness and coughing similar to traditional asthma symptoms. However, the root causes of asthma in the heart are not directly connected to lung issues but to heart failure due to congestion.
When a person suffers from congestive heart disease, the heart’s ability to pump blood is diminished, leading to fluid buildup within the lungs and other areas within the human body. The fluid accumulation in the lungs can trigger asthma episodes in the heart. The attacks usually occur at night, when one is lying down and then wakes up suddenly, breathing heavily. “The term “paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea” reflects the phenomenon.
The cardiac asthma symptoms can be frightening and depressing. During an episode, patients might experience extreme breathlessness, a constant cough that causes pink-coloured or frothy sputum wheezing, and the sensation of tightness or tenseness around the chest. Physical exercise often aggravates these symptoms, such as eating a big meal and exposure to cold, dry air.
The underlying mechanisms behind asthma in the cardiac are closely linked to dysfunction in the heart. When a heart fails in congestive mode, the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood decreases, resulting in a backlog of blood within the vessels that return to the heart’s core. This causes pressure to rise in the blood vessels, which causes the liquid to escape into air sacs. The accumulation of fluids can hinder carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange within the lungs, which leads to breathlessness, among other signs common to asthma symptoms.
Diagnosing asthma in the heart involves an extensive examination of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing. An asthma doctor treating asthmatic patients may employ imaging methods like chest X-rays, echocardiograms and electrocardiograms to determine the functioning and structure of the heart. Also, blood tests are conducted to measure brain natriuretic peptide levels, which is a signpost that increases in the event of heart failure.
The cardiac asthma treatment primarily involves managing the cause of chronic heart conditions. Diuretics and other medications are typically prescribed to lower fluid accumulation within the body. Lifestyle changes such as reducing salt intake, sustaining the weight of a healthy person, and regular exercise activities are crucial to lowering heart asthma.
In the end, it is said that cardiac asthma is a condition that mimics the typical asthma symptoms but is caused by an insufficiency of the congestive part of your heart. The wheezing, breathlessness and coughing are caused by fluid accumulation within the lungs because of diminished heart function. A proper diagnosis, effective treatment of heart problems, and lifestyle adjustments are crucial in reducing symptoms and enhancing the quality of life of those with asthma. It is essential for people experiencing these symptoms to see an asthma specialist promptly to receive an accurate diagnosis as well as cardiac asthma treatment.