Cardiac asthma is not a separate disease, but is considered a symptom or exacerbation of a primary disease of the cardiovascular system or other health problems. It is tolerated quite heavily, requires the obligatory help of a doctor and often hospitalization.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system: causes of an asthma attack
Cardiac asthma is a consequence of the weakening of the muscle tone of the left ventricle and heart failure developed on its background. Such a violation in the work of the heart leads to poor blood circulation in the pulmonary circulation (heart – lungs), its stagnation and pulmonary edema, which in turn results in an attack of suffocation.
Most often, cardiac asthma is manifested against the background of such diseases of the heart system in advanced stages:
- Acute heart failure.
- Cardiosclerosis
- Coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction.
- Myocarditis.
- Hypertonic disease.
- Heart defects (congenital and acquired).
- Acute coronary syndrome.
As a rule, people with coronary heart disease and hypertension have seizures, so with such diseases it is very important to monitor your condition, undergo the necessary treatment and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will help minimize the risk of ventricular failure.
Cardiac asthma: signs of the disease
Cardiac asthma is very difficult to tolerate by patients, because attacks often cause a panic attack. Because of the inability to breathe, a person is overcome by the fear of death, which leads to inappropriate behavior and difficulties in providing emergency care. The situation is complicated by the fact that the signs of this heart disease most often make themselves felt at night – the patient wakes up from an acute feeling of lack of oxygen.
Symptoms of cardiac asthma are:
- Choking, shortness of breath.
- Rapid breathing, up to 40-60 times per minute.
- Dry cough before the attack and wet, with frothy bloody expectoration during the attack.
- Lowering blood pressure, increased heart rate.
- Squeezing chest.
If asthma provokes an initial pulmonary edema, then the following symptoms appear:
- Cyanosis of the face, especially the nasolabial folds.
- Loud wet rales.
- Cramps.
- Cold sweat.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Possible loss of consciousness.
At the same time, bronchospasm is often observed, which can be heard as dry rales and cause an incorrect diagnosis – bronchial asthma. In any case, at the first symptoms you need to urgently call an ambulance, since only a doctor can adequately help with an attack.
Heart Disease: Risks of Asthma
Cardiac asthma can occur against a background of diseases of the cardiovascular system with additional provoking factors:
- Exacerbations.
- Infectious diseases of the lungs.
- Excessive fluid intake (more than 2.5 liters per day).
- Physical overstrain.
- Stress.
- Binge eating.
- Taking medication.
- Sleep in a horizontal position.