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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:29 Causes of Cardiac Asthma
1:18 Signs and symptoms of Cardiac Asthma
2:29 Diagnosis of Cardiac Asthma
3:14 Treatment of Cardiac Asthma




Cardiac asthma is the medical condition of intermittent wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath that is associated with underlying congestive heart failure (CHF).[1] Symptoms of cardiac asthma are related to the heart's inability to effectively and efficiently pump blood in a CHF patient.[2] This can lead to accumulation of fluid in and around the lungs (pulmonary congestion), disrupting the lung's ability to oxygenate blood.[3]

Cardiac asthma carries similar symptoms to bronchial asthma, but is differentiated by lacking inflammatory origin.[1][4] Because of the similarity in symptoms, diagnosis of cardiac versus bronchial asthma relies on full cardiac workup and pulmonary function testing.[2][5]

Treatment is centered on improving cardiac function, maintaining blood oxygen saturation levels, and stabilizing total body water volume and distribution.[1][5]