Pulmonary heart disease
Pulmonary Heart Disease (Cor Pulmonale)[edit | edit source]
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Pulmonary Heart Disease, also known as Cor Pulmonale, is a medical condition characterized by the enlargement and failure of the right ventricle of the heart. This condition is a response to increased vascular resistance or high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
Cor Pulmonale develops as a result of pulmonary hypertension, which puts chronic pressure on the right ventricle, leading to its enlargement and eventually failure. Common causes of pulmonary hypertension include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Pulmonic stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve).
- Chronic pulmonary embolism.
- Interstitial lung diseases.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of Cor Pulmonale may include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Fatigue.
- Swelling of the legs and ankles (peripheral edema).
- Chest discomfort or pain.
- Palpitations.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of Cor Pulmonale involves:
- Clinical examination.
- Imaging studies like chest X-ray and echocardiogram.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart function.
- Blood tests to measure B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.
- Pulmonary function tests.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment of Cor Pulmonale focuses on managing the underlying pulmonary condition and may include:
- Oxygen therapy.
- Diuretics to reduce fluid overload.
- Vasodilators for pulmonary hypertension.
- Bronchodilators and corticosteroids for COPD.
- Anticoagulants in cases with pulmonary embolism.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
The prognosis of Cor Pulmonale varies depending on the severity of pulmonary hypertension and the effectiveness of managing the underlying condition.
Prevention and Management[edit | edit source]
Preventive measures include:
- Smoking cessation.
- Regular exercise.
- Timely management of lung diseases.
- Vaccination against respiratory infections.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Pulmonary heart disease Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen