Cardiac Asthma- What Causes It and Why It Is Often Misdiagnosed

Cardiac asthma is one of the most debilitating forms of asthma. Interestingly enough, it technically is not an asthmatic condition at all, but its symptoms are asthma-like, hence it is often referred to as cardiac asthma. What makes this condition so serious is that it is potentially life threatening and can have terminal consequences, if not treated immediately. Treating this condition like bronchial asthma can have a very deadly effect.

 Asthma in general is a very difficult condition to live with. A life long burden that has no cure, asthma ravages its victims by hampering one of the most important functions of life; breathing. Asthma can attack at any time and can be triggered by light physical exertion or environmental elements. These are usually bronchial asthma attacks which are the most common form of asthma.

Unlike bronchial asthma, cardiac asthma is caused by congestive heart failure. This heart failure induces wheezing and symptoms which are akin to ordinary asthma attacks. The mechanics of this condition starts with sudden blocks occurring in the pulmonary circulation. This causes the left side of the heart to press against the lungs. Furthermore, since the heart is not pumping blood normally, fluid will begin to build up in the lungs.

 

Cardiac asthma generally occurs in the elderly, who already suffer from weak pulmonary action in their hearts. It has also been found that people who have a history of hyper tension and heart disease running in the family are likely to contract this condition. The attacks usually occur at night, right after going to sleep or after doing some kind of physical exertion.

Identifying the symptoms of cardiac asthma is very important. Due to the life-threatening nature of this condition, it is imperative that the patient receive immediate medical attention when an attack occurs. If left untreated, the condition can lead to fatal consequences.

 

A person suffering from an attack of cardiac asthma will notice that their ankles begin to swell during the course of the day. Usually after retiring for the night, the person will experience a feeling of uneasiness accompanied by a shortness of breath- this may or may not include wheezing. Their superficial breathing rate will increase dramatically and there will also be a rise in blood pressure. Most people will be unable to breathe while lying down and will be forced to sit up. There is usually a feeling of restlessness and some patients may also become very anxious about dying. These attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

 

The key to treating this condition lies in diagnosing it properly. Treating this as ordinary bronchial asthma could have devastating consequences for the patient. Treatments often focus on improving the way the heart pumps blood. In some cases, this may require surgery if there is a hole in the heart or if a valve doesn't work properly. The symptoms are often treated, such as the coughing and the amount of fluid that is deposited in the lungs. Most patients find that procedures involving a combination of heart failure treatment, supplementary oxygen, and bronchodilators are very effective in combating this condition. It is key to remember that the diagnosis of this condition is important- simply because its symptoms resemble bronchial asthma does not mean it should be treated as such. This condition is life threatening and needs to be dealt with, quickly and efficiently. Those that suffer from cardiac asthma should immediately seek medical treatment.