Symptoms and treatment of cough for heart failure

Diseases of the cardiovascular system can sometimes have the most incredible manifestations that at first glance are difficult to associate with such disorders in the body. For example, in heart failure, a cough is observed, incomparable to the fact that infection or a virus is characteristic. When it arises, how to define it? Is it possible to get rid of him and of the original source?

Why do you have a cough?

Of course, not all violations of the cardiovascular system are accompanied by this phenomenon, but its approximate "roots" can be found if you follow the person who is tormented by the unstable work of the heart: he often lacks air, shortness of breath appears. And where the latter is, there is always at least a slight cough associated precisely with oxygen deficiency. Cardiac asthma, an acute form of heart failure in the left ventricle, can also be added here, as a result of which blood plasma penetrates the lung tissue and subsequently reaches the bronchi. But is it only with these diseases that a heart cough occurs?

• Any blood flow disturbance leading to a deficiency in the lungs causes bronchial spasm due to the same problem in the vessels.

Thus, respiratory function is inhibited, which can gradually develop into cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema. It all starts with the fact that the pathological processes of the left ventricle prevent it from properly contracting and pumping blood into the aorta. Accordingly, the pressure in the small circle of blood circulation, which passes through it, increases due to the slowing down of the blood flow velocity while maintaining the same blood volume. Due to the fact that this circle passes through the lungs, ventricular insufficiency automatically becomes pulmonary insufficiency.

Increased pressure and low blood flow velocity cause tissue hypoxia, as well as an increase in venous pressure. After them pneumosclerosis develops: collagen fibers build up on the walls of small vessels, as well as partitions of the pulmonary alveoli, gradually worsening their permeability. Accordingly, the deterioration of blood circulation in the lungs is disturbed even more, because, ultimately, the lumens completely disappear, overgrown with connective tissue.

As a result, there is not only a strong jump in pulmonary pressure (in the artery), but also venous congestion in the great circulation. Hypertrophy and dilatation of the right sections develop, which can cause myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, and asystole. The easiest outcome is constant arrhythmia. The final stage is left ventricular failure, which turns into cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema. For this reason, it is important to track the disease at an early stage.

Symptoms of Cough for Heart Failure

A characteristic sign of respiratory disorders due to heart failure is increased (or only the appearance) of cough with active physical exertion with an increase in pulse, as well as with bending forward (deformation of the diaphragm), the adoption of a horizontal position.

• Doctors distinguish several types of impaired respiratory function: dry, rolling waves, accompanied by heavy breathing, mainly observed with stenosis and an increase in the size of the left atrium. If sweating and weakness are added here, stenosis of the mitral valve may be suspected.
• With a very loud cough, which is aggravated closer to the night, it looks like chronic, increases at the moment of adopting a horizontal position and is accompanied by shortness of breath, painful pricks in the heart area, this is a failure of the left ventricle in chronic form.
• If the cough is just very dry, frequent, but does not have additional symptoms, the disease is in its infancy, stagnation is observed only in the pulmonary circulation. In the later stages, fainting, enlarged cervical veins, bluish skin, general swelling (especially in the legs), sputum, in which there are traces of blood, which is characteristic of thromboembolism can occur.

Most often, a person begins to suspect that a cough is not associated with an accidental cold or infection when the last listed symptoms occur, although exceptions are possible here. Doctors say: even at this stage, you can still find a way out of the situation, but it is better to identify the "enemy" earlier, while it is only a matter of weakening blood circulation in a small circle.

How to treat heart cough?

Whatever the cause of the problem, keep in mind that therapy should begin with a visit to a cardiologist and an accurate diagnosis. Heart cough is not a disease, but only its manifestation; therefore, there is no point in trying to influence the throat and lungs without affecting the “core”. In some ways, such treatment will even be dangerous if you can get rid of cough, but do not improve the state of the cardiovascular system: a depressed symptom does not stop the development of the disease, and the following manifestation of it can become fatal.

• For the treatment of heart cough, you can turn to diuretics: these drugs by removing excess fluid from the tissues relieve swelling and reduce pressure, and, consequently, reduce the degree of stress on the cardiovascular system. It is best if your doctor prescribes the drug, choosing it individually. Among the common names, Indoapamid and Veroshpiron deserve trust.
• You can try to reduce the pressure and reduce the degree of load in an alternative way, through the expansion of blood vessels: Lozartan, Atacand will suit this purpose. That is, almost any drugs that have a hypotensive effect may be useful.

With regard to a variety of expectorant and soothing means of mucous throat, their use is of a secondary nature: they will not affect the problem and can really only help in alleviating the general condition. For example, if the cough is very intense and sore throat. Any sprays, pills, lozenges and syrups that have an anesthetic effect, expel sputum and liquefy it can be useful here.

Summing up, it is worth emphasizing once again that heart cough can speak not only of insufficiency, but also of congenital or acquired heart disease, coronary disease, valve problems. Therefore, before trying to get rid of it, go through the examination and consult with a cardiologist.