Verified By Apollo Hospitals October 1, 2024
Pulmonary heart disease or Cor pulmonale is the enlargement and failure of the right ventricle of the heart due to increased vascular resistance or pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary heart disease causes the right ventricle to enlarge and pump blood less effectively than normal, due to which the ventricle is then pushed to its limit and ultimately fails.
Pulmonary heart disease is a complication of lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
The early symptoms may go unnoticed, as they are quite similar to the feeling we get after hard work such as shortness of breath, tiredness, an increased heart rate etc. Over the time, these symptoms get worse. Visit your doctor immediately, if you have:
Pulmonary heart disease can be chronic or acute. It is usually caused by a lung disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common cause for pulmonary heart disease, however there are other factors also. The condition becomes more severe if you have a pre-existing heart disease like arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or a history of heart attack.
Pulmonary heart disease is the adaptive response of your heart’s right ventricle to the increased afterload caused by the pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is caused due to increased pressure in the lungs’ arteries and your heart’s right ventricle that carries oxygenated blood to the heart while returning oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs. An untreated pulmonary hypertension is the most common cause of pulmonary heart disease. Other conditions that can cause pulmonary heart disease include:
Apart from clinical examination, whereby your doctor will look for abnormal heart rhythms, fluid retention, and protruding neck veins, you will be undergoing following investigations:
Treatment for pulmonary heart disease is mainly focused with treating the underlying causes of pulmonary diseases.
Pulmonary heart disease or cor pulmonale is a serious heart condition that develops due to advanced lung disease. Strategies for prevention of some of the conditions causing pulmonary heart disease would be leading a healthy lifestyle by not smoking, exercising regularly, avoiding exposure to airborne pollution. A careful management of your lung disease is also important because pulmonary heart disease stems from lung issues. It is important to monitor for any lung complications and pay close attention to any worsening signs and symptoms. Pulmonary heart disease is a progressive disease that can rapidly worsen. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening.
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