What is asthma, almost every person imagines. These are asthma attacks that occur periodically as a result of either a malfunction of the heart or a bronchospasm. But we’ll talk today about what exactly causes these disorders and how to distinguish cardiac asthma from bronchial asthma.
Causes of Cardiac Asthma
It should be noted right away that cardiac asthma is not an independent disease. As a rule, it develops as a result of prolonged hypertension or after a myocardial infarction, as well as cardiosclerosis or various heart defects.
Cardiac asthma, the symptoms of which we will discuss below, manifests itself in the form of an asthma attack caused by stagnation of blood in the pulmonary blood vessels. It causes a weakening of the contractility of the left ventricle of the heart. Part of the plasma is outside the vessels and impregnates the lung tissue, which, in turn, entails their edema and, consequently, impaired respiratory function.
Cardiac asthma symptoms
As a rule, an attack occurs at night. The patient suddenly has a sharp lack of air, because of which he is forced to always take the same posture: either sit on the bed, legs down and leaning his hands on its edge, or approach the window and stand leaning on the windowsill. This greatly facilitates the condition.
Otherwise, asthma is manifested by impaired pulse: it is weak, arrhythmic, and rapid. A dry cough occurs with a small amount of pink sputum. Blood pressure is usually lowered, but can, and vice versa, rise significantly. There is profuse sweating and a panicky persistent fear of death.
In the afternoon, an attack of cardiac asthma occurs against a background of emotional and physical overload or a strong increase in pressure.
Cardiac asthma: symptoms that distinguish it from bronchial asthma
Two types of suffocation (bronchial and cardiac) should be distinguished, because their treatment, of course, is also different. As a rule, allergy is the basis of bronchial asthma, and it usually also manifests itself in the form of urticaria, rhinitis or eosinophilia. While the presence of hypertension, the elderly patient, as well as damage to his heart, signal that asthma is cardiac.
Difficult exhalation characterizes bronchial asthma, and inhalation characterizes cardiac asthma. An ECG will help differentiate these diseases: in the latter case, the examination will show disturbances in the heart.
Cardiac asthma: clinic and consequences
Attacks can cause chronic heart failure in a patient. And if the disease that caused the occurrence of suffocation is severe, then this state of affairs can lead to death.
Cardiac Asthma: Symptoms and First Aid
If an attack occurs, you must call the ambulance service. Before the doctors arrive, without fussing and without worrying the patient, sit him down (his legs should be hung up), calm him down, open the window. With elevated pressure, give a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. Place tourniquets or tight dressings on your hands and feet to help redistribute the blood flow and facilitate the work of the left ventricle, loosen them every 15 minutes. Do not refuse hospitalization!