Symptoms of cor pulmonale

Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Cor pulmonale refers to a disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to pathologies of the bronchi, lung tissue, chest wall, and blood vessels of the lungs, leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension and structural and functional changes in the right ventricle. The common clinical symptoms of cor pulmonale include coughing, expectoration, shortness of breath, significant palpitations, and breathing difficulties after physical activity, reduced work capacity, and exacerbation of the above symptoms during acute infection phases. Some patients may experience chest pain and hemoptysis. The second set of symptoms relates to heart and lung function, manifesting during the decompensation phase. For instance, some patients may develop respiratory failure, and experience headaches, decreased appetite, drowsiness, significant edema in the lower extremities, and further symptoms such as arrhythmias, anorexia, abdominal distension, and nausea.

Other Voices

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Can people with heart disease drink alcohol?

Patients with heart disease should not consume alcohol, especially those with severe heart conditions such as coronary heart disease, severe arrhythmias, and viral myocarditis. These patients especially should avoid alcohol as they need to use many medications during treatment. If they consume alcohol, the alcohol entering the body can chemically interact with some medications, leading to reduced efficacy, diminished effects, or causing side effects. Additionally, for these heart disease patients, consuming alcohol can increase the burden on the heart and exacerbate symptoms of heart disease.

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Early symptoms of heart disease

How is heart disease diagnosed? What are its early symptoms? Actually, the concept of heart disease is very broad as it includes many diseases related to the heart. Generally, it refers to problems with the structure or function of the heart, or its inability to perform its pumping function. Its early symptoms can include chest tightness, chest pain, or a crushing feeling after activity, and some may even radiate to the back or the inside of the arms, even involving the shoulders, presenting symptoms like increased heart rate, palpitations, tinnitus, and breathing difficulties. All these are related to heart disease. But how can we determine what kind of heart disease it is? We believe that the first step is to visit a hospital for tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG), ambulatory ECGs, exercise stress tests, and other imaging tests including coronary CT and even coronary angiography. Of course, some biochemical tests are also necessary, such as myocardial enzymes, troponins, myoglobins, brain natriuretic peptides, immunological and biological tests, which all help to determine the nature of the heart disease. In summary, we must pay special attention to heart disease, and once these symptoms appear, we should seek medical attention promptly and early.

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Is pulmonary heart disease serious?

Cor pulmonale refers to the disease characterized by changes in the structure and function of the right ventricle due to increased pressure resistance in the pulmonary vessels, caused by abnormalities in the bronchopulmonary tissue, thoracic cage, pulmonary vessels, etc., ultimately leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Common symptoms of cor pulmonale observed clinically include coughing, production of phlegm, shortness of breath, chest tightness after activity, and difficulty breathing. Some individuals may experience respiratory failure and symptoms of heart failure. The severity of cor pulmonale depends firstly on the underlying causes of the disease. For instance, conditions like pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension generally have a poorer and more serious prognosis. Secondly, extensive lung infections leading to a loss of cardiopulmonary compensation, resulting in respiratory failure and heart failure, typically indicate a more severe condition.

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Is congenital heart disease heart cancer?

Congenital heart disease primarily refers to the abnormal development of the heart and blood vessels during the fetal period, leading to cardiovascular malformations. It is the most common type of heart disease in children, with an incidence rate of about 6-8 per 1,000 live births. Generally, congenital heart disease refers to malformations during the development of the fetal heart. The exact causes of this condition are still not completely understood. However, actively preventing viral infectious diseases in the early stages of pregnancy and avoiding certain high-risk factors associated with the disease play a significant role in preventing congenital heart disease in children. It should be noted that congenital heart disease represents malformations in the development of the heart and is not a form of heart cancer, hence there is no terminology that describes it as such.

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Premonitory signs of a sudden heart attack

Sudden heart disease primarily refers to the sudden onset of acute myocardial infarction. Between 50% to 81.2% of patients have prodromal symptoms, experiencing significant chest discomfort, fatigue, palpitations during activity, shortness of breath, irritability, and angina in the days before the onset, with the most prominent being new or worsening angina. The angina is more frequent than before, more severe, lasts longer, and nitroglycerin relief is not significantly apparent; the triggers are also unclear. Sometimes, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal bloating occur and are often misdiagnosed, causing delays in treatment.