Anda di halaman 1dari 4

Asthma Bronchi…

Bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma

Bronchial asthma is another name for the common form of asthma. The term ‘bronchial’ is occasionally used to
differentiate it from what doctors sometimes call ‘cardiac’ asthma, which is not true asthma but breathing
dif culties caused by heart failure. Although the two conditions have similar symptoms, including shortness of
breath and wheezing (a whistling sound in the chest), they have quite different causes.

Cardiac asthma
In cardiac asthma, the reduced pumping ef ciency of the left side of the heart leads to a build up of uid in the
lungs (pulmonary oedema). This uid build-up can cause breathlessness and wheezing. Cardiac asthma has
very similar symptoms to bronchial asthma. The main symptoms and signs of cardiac asthma are:

shortness of breath with or without wheezing;


cough;
rapid and shallow breathing;
an increase in blood pressure and heart rate; and
a feeling of apprehension.

The pattern of shortness of breath helps doctors determine which type of asthma you have — people with
bronchial asthma tend to experience shortness of breath early in the morning, whereas people with heart failure
and cardiac asthma often nd they wake up breathless a few hours after going to bed, and have to sit upright to
catch their breath. This is because in people with heart failure, lying down for prolonged periods will cause uid
to accumulate in the lungs leading to shortness of breath.

Both bronchial and cardiac asthma can make people short of breath when they exert themselves. In bronchial
asthma, symptoms are usually brought on by vigorous exercise and tend to be worse after the exercise than
during it. On the other hand, cardiac asthma tends to happen during less vigorous exertion — someone with
heart failure can nd themselves short of breath while climbing stairs, or in severe cases, while getting dressed.

People with heart failure also often have problems with swollen ankles that worsen during the course of the day.
They may also feel very tired, put on weight and have to urinate frequently.

Cardiac asthma can be a life-threatening condition, and you should consult your doctor if you think you have
symptoms of cardiac asthma.

Bronchial asthma
For most people with bronchial asthma, the pattern is periodic attacks of wheezing alternating with periods of
quite normal breathing. However, some people with bronchial asthma alternate between chronic (long-term)
shortness of breath and episodes in which they feel even more breathless than usual.

Risks for developing bronchial asthma include being a person who is genetically susceptible to asthma and
being exposed early in life to indoor allergens, such as dust mites and cockroaches, and having a family history
of asthma or allergy. Exposure to the effects of tobacco smoke before birth or during early childhood also
increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma attacks can be triggered (precipitated or aggravated) by various factors, including:

respiratory tract infections;


cold weather;
exercise;
allergens (substances that trigger an allergic reaction) such as pollen and house dust mites;
cigarette smoke and other air pollutants; and
stress.

Some people can develop asthma due to an intolerance that their body develops to aspirin or other non-
steroidal anti-in ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (in which case exposure to aspirin or NSAIDs can trigger an asthma
attack). Other medicines, such as beta-blockers, can worsen or unmask bronchial asthma. Other people
develop asthma due to an allergy that they develop to certain chemicals in the workplace (this is called
‘occupational asthma’, in which case exposure to the chemical triggers an asthma attack).

The symptoms of bronchial asthma include:

a feeling of tightness in the chest;


dif culty in breathing or shortness of breath;
wheezing; and
coughing (particularly at night).

Although there is currently no cure for bronchial asthma, it can be controlled. There is little reason why you
cannot continue to do many of the activities you enjoy. Work with your doctor to develop an asthma action plan
and learn to control your asthma — don’t let it control you!

Last Reviewed: 26 January 2010


myDr

References

1. National Asthma Council Australia. Asthma Management Handbook 2006. Melbourne, 2006.
Available at: http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/cms/ (accessed 2010, Apr 8)
2. Mayo Clinic [website]. Asthma (updated 2010, Mar 27). Available at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021 (accessed 2010, Apr 8)
3. Asthma [revised October 2009]. In: eTG complete [Internet]. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines
Limited; 2010 Mar (Accessed 2010, Apr 8.) http://www.tg.org.au/
4. National Asthma Council Australia [website]. Asthma and pain relievers (updated 2005, March).
Available at: http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/content/view/187/36/ (accessed 2010, Apr 8)
5. Mayo Clinic [website]. Pulmonary edema (updated 2009, Jul 31). Available at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-edema/DS00412 (accessed 2010, Apr 8)
6. Heart failure [revised June 2008]. In: eTG complete [Internet]. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines
Limited; 2010 Mar (Accessed 2010, Apr 8.) http://www.tg.org.au/
myDr
myDr provides comprehensive Australian health
and medical information, images and tools
covering symptoms, diseases, tests, medicines
and treatments, and nutrition and tness.

You may also like

Related Articles

Asthma overview

Heart failure overview

Thunderstorm asthma - things you should know

Find a Medicine

Recommended

Video: Antidepressants work, but some better than others

Video: Night shifts increase risk of type 2 diabetes

Video: Diabetes Week

Video: Binge drinking teenagers - are parents to blame?


Video: Australians are eating too much salt

Do self-management support programs work for chronic conditions?

This web site is intended for Australian residents and is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Information and interactions
contained in this Web site are for information purposes only and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Further, the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information available on this Web site cannot be guaranteed. Dr Me Pty Ltd, its af liates
and their respective servants and agents do not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information
made available via or through myDr whether arising from negligence or otherwise. See Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.

2001-2018 myDr.com.au © | All Rights Reserved


About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Privacy Policy Advertising Policy Sitemap

Anda mungkin juga menyukai