What is cardiac asthma?

Cardiac Asthma (อาการเหมือนหอบหืดเนื่องจากปัญหาหัวใจ)

Cardiac asthma refers to symptoms that mimic bronchial asthma (asthma from the lungs) but are actually caused by heart problems, particularly heart failure. In this condition, fluid builds up in the lungs due to the heart\'s inability to pump blood efficiently, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing—symptoms similar to asthma. It is crucial to distinguish between the two because treatment for bronchial asthma may be harmful if the patient actually has cardiac asthma.

Key Features of Cardiac Asthma:

1. Symptoms:
2. Shortness of breath, often worse at night or when lying down (orthopnea)
3. Wheezing and coughing, sometimes with frothy or pink-tinged sputum
4. Swelling in the legs (edema) due to heart failure

1. Causes:
2. Left-sided heart failure, where the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary congestion).

1. Diagnosis:
2. Clinical evaluation: Symptoms, medical history, and physical examination (e.g., crackles in the lungs, elevated jugular venous pressure).
3. Tests: Chest X-ray (showing fluid in the lungs), echocardiogram (to assess heart function), and sometimes blood tests (e.g., BNP levels, which are elevated in heart failure).

1. Treatment:
2. Focuses on managing heart failure, such as diuretics to remove excess fluid, medications to improve heart function (e.g., ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers), and oxygen if needed.
3. Avoids bronchodilators used for asthma, as they can be harmful in heart failure.

Why Distinguishing from Bronchial Asthma Matters:

• Mistreatment: Bronchial asthma is treated with inhalers (e.g., SABA, corticosteroids), while cardiac asthma requires heart medications. Using asthma medications for cardiac asthma can worsen heart function.

• Prognosis: Cardiac asthma indicates underlying heart disease, which requires prompt management to prevent further complications.

Example of Cardiac Asthma:

A patient with a history of heart failure presents with wheezing and shortness of breath. If mistaken for asthma and given a bronchodilator, their heart condition could worsen. Correct diagnosis and treatment (e.g., diuretics) would relieve symptoms and improve heart function.

For more details, see:

• Carenity. \"What is cardiac asthma?\" (https://www.carenity.co.uk/condition-information/magazine/news/what-is-cardiac-asthma-1158)

• Vinmec. \"Distinguishing between bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma\" (https://www.vinmec.com/eng/blog/distinguish-between-bronchial-asthma-and-cardiac-asthma-en)

If you or someone you know has symptoms like these, consult a doctor for proper evaluation, especially if there is a history of heart disease.