Pulmonary heart: causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis

Heart Lung — a pathological condition which is accompanied by hypertrophy with subsequent expansion of the right side of the heart. Similar disorders develop on the background of increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The absence of therapy in this disease leads to dangerous complications including heart attacks of a myocardium.

Of Course, many people are looking for additional information about pathology. Why develops the disease? How is the development of pulmonary heart disease? What symptoms should alert the patient of the person? Are there any effective treatments? What predictions can count patients? The answers to these questions will be useful to many readers.

Brief description of the disease

Heart Lung — a very common disease which is accompanied by expansion of the right heart. The mechanism of pathology development are studied well.

As you know, the muscle layer of the right heart is not as strongly developed, as is only responsible for pumping blood in a small circle of blood circulation (in the blood vessels of the lungs blood is oxygenated and comes back). Sometimes, for whatever reasons, the pressure in the blood vessels increases, resulting in right ventricle and atrium are forced to cope with increased loads.

If it is subacute or chronic form, (when blood pressure is increased gradually), the myocardial tissue slowly change — the number of muscle fibers is increased in order to cope with the additional loads. Unfortunately, these parts of the heart are not intended for heavy work and the number of coronary vessels that feed the myocardium, there is less. Such a body is disrupted trophic tissues. The muscles of the heart suffer from lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Main causes of disease

In fact, such a state is not an independent pathology — it develops on the background of other diseases. Causes of pulmonary heart disease is extremely important to determine at the time of diagnosis, as it depends largely on the success of the treatment. It is necessary to consider the most common risk factors:

• Pulmonary Embolism heart — a dangerous condition that is accompanied by blockage of the lumen of the vessel from a blood clot. Such pathology may be the result of trauma, fractures, diabetes, boost blood viscosity. Acute pulmonary heart often develops on a background of thromboembolism.
• Pneumothorax — a violation of the integrity of the pleural cavity, which may be associated with injuries of the chest, medical procedures, etc.
• Pleural effusion — a disease that is characterized by inflammation of the external membrane of the lung with the release and subsequent accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity.
• Acute pulmonary heart disease may be associated with severe bronchial asthma attacks.
• Causes include tuberculosis.
• Pneumoconiosis-fibrosis of the lung tissue that is associated with prolonged inhalation of dust, metals, talc and other substances.
• Fibrosing alveolitis-a disease that is accompanied by damage to the walls of the alveoli, followed by replacement of functional tissue connecting. Of course, the processes of breathing and blood flow are at stake.
• Congenital lung pathology is also referred to as risk factors. Pulmonary heart sometimes develops on the background of cystic, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypoplasia.
• Sarcoidosis-the disease is in the lungs, forming large granulomas, which put pressure on the surrounding tissue, clamp the bronchioles and small pulmonary vessels.
• Chronic form of pulmonary heart disease often develops on the background of bronchitis (chronic).
• To the list of causes include bronchiectasis, which represent diseased bronchi.
• Emphysema — an ailment that is accompanied by increased lung volume on the background of the expansion of the bronchi. Of course, the destruction of the walls of the bronchial tubes leads to disruption of gas exchange and blood circulation.
• To the list of possible causes include vascular disease, particularly pathologies that hit the wall of the pulmonary artery, small pulmonary capillaries.
• Neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy, polio, myasthenia gravis, myopathy, accompanied by weakness of the respiratory muscles, which leads to disruption of the processes of pulmonary ventilation.
• Extremely rare pulmonary heart develops on the background of disorders of the respiratory centre, which is located in the medulla. This sometimes occurs after stroke and head injuries, against meningitis, increased intracranial pressure, in case of poisoning by certain substances.
• The list of reasons can be attributed to deformation of the chest, in which the ventilation is much worse.

Classification Scheme

Of Course, there are many classification schemes such pathology. If you pay attention to the speed of development of disease, there are:

• The acute form, which develops quickly, sometimes in a few hours (may be associated with thrombosis);
• Subacute, in which the pathological process develops within a few weeks or months;
The
• Chronic pulmonary heart — a form of pathology that develops against the backdrop of gradual, long-term increase in pressure in the blood vessels (disease can be the result of chronic respiratory failure).

Stage of development of pathology

As the disease develops? Pulmonary heart progresses in several stages.

• Pre-clinical stage occurs without any symptoms, so the disease can be diagnosed only during the instrumental study. Observed transient pulmonary hypertension.
• Compensated stage — is already resistant hypertension. This stage is characterized already expressed hypertrophy of the right ventricle.
• The stage of decompensation is accompanied by the appearance of symptoms of insufficiency of the right ventricle.

Clinical signs: the main symptoms

It is Worth noting that the symptoms of pulmonary heart disease depends on the form and stage of disease. The list of possible symptoms is quite impressive:

• Often patients can experience palpitations, which indicates tachycardia. The heart begins to contract faster in order to compensate for the insufficiency of blood circulation. This is the most common symptom of chronic pulmonary heart.
• Pathology is often accompanied by arrhythmias.
• Pain in the heart area also develop on the background such pathology, in particular its chronic form, because the heart is forced to work hard under conditions of oxygen starvation. The pain is usually aggravated during physical activity.
• Acute pulmonary heart (as well as chronic form of the disease) is accompanied by severe shortness of breath
• To the list of symptoms can also include frequent dizziness, episodes of which often end in loss of consciousness.
• Cough — another symptom of pulmonary heart disease, however, it is connected with stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation. The cough may worsen during physical activity.
• Many patients complain of fatigue, constant weakness, fatigue.
• If right-sided heart failure, the list of symptoms you can Supplement edema that appear on the background of stagnation of blood. Usually, the excess fluid accumulates in the soft tissues of the lower extremities.
• Cyanosis of the skin associated with the overflow vessels of the venous blood and reduce the level of oxygen in arterial blood.
• When examination of the patient can be detected in the jugular vein.
• On the background of chronic pulmonary heart fingers patients often change shape "drumsticks". By the way, this is a common symptom indicating a variety of protracted lung and heart diseases.
• Pain in the right hypochondrium associated with enlargement of the liver that occurs on the background of increase in pressure and stagnation of blood in the lower sexual of Vienna.
• At a later stage of chronic right-sided heart failure may develop ascites, in which the abdomen begins to accumulate free fluid.

Chronic pulmonary heart

This form of the disease develops gradually, over many months, and sometimes years. Causes of chronic pulmonary heart disease may be different:

• Damage to blood vessels, for example, on the background of primary pulmonary hypertension or arteritis;
• Surgery for partial or complete removal of the lung;
• Obstructive respiratory diseases, particularly bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and various forms of fibrosis;
• Obesity;
• Adhesive process in the pleura;
• Damage to the thoracic and upper spinal cord.

In some patients, the disease develops in compensated form — there has been an increase and expansion of the right ventricle, but the pathology occurs virtually asymptomatic. On the other hand, the disease can always go into decompensated form, in which there are symptoms of cardio-pulmonary insufficiency.

Possible complications

Treatment of pulmonary heart disease in most cases allows you to control the progression of the disease. However, if the disease was diagnosed at a late stage or had any comorbidities, the likelihood of very dangerous complications:

• The Most common complications of pulmonary heart disease is myocardial infarction. As already mentioned, the disease is accompanied by oxygen starvation, which leads to necrosis of muscle cells. In addition, the risk of myocardial infarction on the background of pulmonary hypertension is increased in atherosclerosis, increased level of cholesterol in the blood. Risk factors include Smoking and refusal of medicines prescribed by the doctor.
• Pulmonary heart is associated with significant impairments of blood flow. Blood stasis in the portal Vienna leads to several dangerous complications, in particular, peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and small intestine. The fact is that due to stagnation of blood and oxygen starvation the structure of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract varies, which makes them sensitive to negative influences of external and internal environment. Risk factors in this case include the penetration in the organism of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, irregularnutrition, abuse of alcohol etc. it is Worth noting that the sores that developed on the background of heart failure, it is very difficult to care.
• Cirrhosis of the liver-another possible complication, which is associated with prolonged stagnation of blood within the body. The liver is reduced, it becomes more dense structure. The body cannot filter and clean the blood, bad cope with their functions, which leads to the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and enlargement of the spleen.
• Often patients with chronic pulmonary heart faced with such unpleasant consequence as hemorrhoids. The fact that the veins located in the anus and rectum, expanding on the background of stagnation of blood. Observed varicose veins, bulging of the mucous membranes, the formation and increase of hemorrhoids. Disease accompanied by discomfort and teeth in the anal area, pain during bowel movements. Sometimes vessels are damaged and the stool appear the trail of red blood. Hemorrhoids can be surgically removed only after will be able to take control of the General condition of the patient, eliminate blood stasis and relieve other symptoms of pulmonary heart disease.
• Varicose veins — another complication, which, again, is associated with stagnation. The overflow of blood vessels leads to a pathological extension of the walls — so developing varicose veins. In most cases, the process includes the veins of the lower extremities. Patients complain of swelling, heaviness in the legs, cramps at night. In more severe cases, varicose disease is accompanied by inflammation of vascular walls, formation of blood clots.

At the time of diagnosis it is essential to check the patient for the presence of the above complications — may need additional treatment.

Diagnostic measures

Of Course, noticing some alarming symptoms, you need to consult a doctor. Diagnosis of pulmonary heart disease is extremely important, because the diagnosis depends directly on the effectiveness of therapy.

• General inspection of the patient and the medical history in this case is extremely important. So the doctor can learn more about the symptoms. Also, the expert drew attention to the shape of the fingers of the patient, presence of edema and swollen veins, increased abdominal and other external symptoms.
• In the General inspection is carried out auscultation and percussion of the heart.
• Extremely informative is electrocardiography. During the procedure, the doctor can diagnose the tachycardia, detect certain heart rhythm disorders, to evaluate the performance of the heart muscle.
• Echocardiography-a procedure that enables to examine the heart using ultrasound equipment. During the examination, the doctor can examine the heart and valves, to measure the wall thickness of the myocardium, and also check the speed of blood flow. Thus, the expert can detect the hypertrophy of the muscles and increase the heart chambers.
• X-ray examination gives the doctor information about the size and locations of the thorax.
• It is Mandatory blood test. When pulmonary heart, an increase in the number of red blood cells, reducing their rate of sedimentation, as well as increasing hemoglobin level and leucocytes.
• If there is a suspicion of infectious processes in the lungs, we additionally performed a bacteriological culture. For the analysis, as a rule, take sputum samples. The procedure makes it possible to identify the causative agent and to assess its sensitivity to a particular drug.
• Studies of the respiratory functions, which help to identify chronic disorders in the respiratory system.

How to treat the disease?

Treatment of pulmonary heart disease have to be integrated. The scheme of treatment is the doctor after studying the results of all studies.

Since the pathology associated with oxygen starvation, the first thing you need to restore its level. With this purpose, a variety of drugs and techniques:

• First and foremost, patients are prescribed bronchodilators. Such tools help expand the lumen of the bronchi, resulting in improved ventilation — tissues receive more oxygen.
• Effective oxygen inhalation. Using a special probe (in most cases it is administered via the nasal passages) in the lungs deliver the gas mixture with high oxygen content. Of course, the procedure is carried out only hospital. If we are talking about the treatment of chronic pulmonary heart, then repeat the procedure for several weeks.

Blood congestion in the lungs and other organs increases the likelihood of development of infectious diseases. That is why sometimes in the treatment regimen included antibiotics.

It is Also important to take control of pulmonary hypertension and to normalize blood pressure in blood vessels. With this purpose, different means:

• Calcium channel Blockers, in particular, “Diltiazem” and “AG”, promote smooth muscle relaxation that helps to expand the lumen of the pulmonary capillaries.
• ACE Inhibitors ("Captopril") prevents the development of spasms of the vessels.
• Nitrates help relieve the heart by reducing the blood return to the right atrium.
• Alpha-blockers (eg,“Doxazosin") affect the receptors of the capillary wall, promoting their expansion.

Congestion often lead to an increase in blood viscosity. This impairs the circulation of fluid and increases the likelihood of developing blood. In addition, thick blood passes through small capillaries and is virtually not involved in respiration. That is why patients are prescribed remedies, blood thinners (for example, “Reopoliglyukin”).

Therapy, of course, are aimed to relieve the symptoms of right heart failure.

• Treatment includes administration of diuretics. They help to get rid of the excess water of the body, bringing fluid naturally. These drugs help with the swelling, and normalize the blood pressure. Dose picked individually.
• Used cardiac glycosides. They increase the contractile activity of the myocardium. Patients are prescribed small doses — too large quantities of such drugs only increase the load on the heart and exacerbate the situation.

Of Course, you need to treat the primary disease, because pulmonary heart — only a consequence of a pathologic process. For example, it is necessary adequate treatment of asthma and chronic bronchitis. When pulmonary fibrosis patient requires a lung transplant.

If necessary, symptomatic therapy. If thromboembolism or injury to the chest caused the development of acute pulmonary heart disease — resuscitation and surgical intervention the patient needs.

In Any case do not ignore the doctor's orders, because otherwise may develop hazardous complications.

Heart Lung: recommendations about nutrition

As you know, the foods that most often use of people, affect the work of the body, including the blood pressure, the excretory and circulatory systems. If the patient had signs of pulmonary heart disease, doctors recommend to adjust the diet, guided by simple rules:

• You need to reduce the amount of salt (no more than 5 g per day);
• It is important to abandon alcoholic beverages;
• From the diet should exclude foods that contain animal fats (butter, fat, rich broth, pork);
• If swelling, the need to temporarily reduce the amount of fluids you drink;
• It is recommended to reduce the calorie content of the daily diet;
• In the menu need to include foods rich in vitamins.

This therapy should adhere to and for the prevention of various cardiovascular diseases.

Forecasts for patients

How many are living with pulmonary heart? What can you expect from the patient? Immediately is to say that the outcome of disease largely depends on what stage of development was diagnosed with pulmonary heart and time was the beginning of the appropriate therapy. If the disease is found in the compensation stage, the intake of certain medications, proper lifestyle and appropriate diet helps the patient to lead a normal lifestyle (limited physical activity, of course).

If there is to be a stage of decompensation, the disease leads to disability — human performance sharply reduced, health is deteriorating, he often loses the ability to serve themselves, even at the household level. The absence of therapy is fraught with dangerous complications until the patient's death.