Symptoms of Pulmonary Heart Disease
A friend of mine has experienced an increased heart rate, and we are unsure whether this could be a symptom of cor pulmonale. Could you please tell me, Doctor, what are the symptoms of cor pulmonale?
Doctor's answer (1)
The symptoms of pulmonary heart disease include coughing, shortness of breath, cyanosis, chest pain, and rapid heart rate.
1. Coughing: Patients with pulmonary heart disease often have a long history of coughing, which tends to worsen during cold seasons or after physical exertion. The sputum may change from white to yellow, and the amount of sputum may increase.
2. Shortness of breath: Patients frequently experience breathlessness, which may progressively worsen as the disease advances, manifesting as persistent and progressive dyspnea.
3. Cyanosis: Due to oxygen deficiency, bluish discoloration may appear on areas such as the lips and fingernails, indicating the heart's reduced capacity to supply oxygen, caused by pulmonary heart disease.
4. Chest pain: Chest pain may be related to inflammation, parietal pleura, or right ventricular ischemia. Patients often experience retrosternal pain and a sense of urgency following coughing or physical activity.
5. Rapid heart rate: Cardiac dysfunction in patients with pulmonary heart disease often leads to tachycardia and irregular heartbeats. Palpitations may also occur, resulting from pulmonary ventilation impairment, chronic tissue hypoxia, myocardial damage, and subsequent arrhythmias.
The occurrence of these symptoms is associated with factors such as hypoxia, right heart failure, and pulmonary infection. If symptoms suggestive of pulmonary heart disease appear, prompt medical consultation for diagnosis and treatment is necessary to avoid delays in treatment.
