Cardiac asthma

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Cardiac asthma is a medical condition characterized by wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, symptoms similar to those of asthma. However, unlike asthma, which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, cardiac asthma is caused by the failure of the heart's left ventricle, leading to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and increased pressure in the pulmonary veins. This condition is more accurately described as a type of heart failure rather than true asthma. It is crucial to distinguish between the two, as their treatments differ significantly.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Cardiac asthma typically results from cardiac insufficiency or heart failure, particularly failure of the left ventricle. The most common underlying causes include:

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Symptoms of cardiac asthma can mimic those of bronchial asthma and include:

  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • Coughing, especially at night
  • Feeling of tightness in the chest

However, symptoms specific to cardiac asthma may also include:

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis of cardiac asthma involves a thorough medical history, physical examination, and various tests to assess heart function, including:

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment of cardiac asthma focuses on managing the underlying heart condition and may include:

Lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake, managing weight, and quitting smoking, are also recommended to alleviate symptoms and improve heart health.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

Preventing cardiac asthma involves managing risk factors for heart disease, such as controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco use.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Cardiac asthma

PubMed
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AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Cardiac asthma: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


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