Cardiac asthma: treatment, symptoms, emergency care

Stagnation of blood in the pulmonary vessels is formed due to violations of its free outflow to the left heart ventricle.

The reason for this is:

• narrowing of the atrioventricular orifice;
• heart failure;
• myocardial infarction;
• disorders in the mitral valve;
• arrhythmia;
• paroxysmal lifting of blood pressure;
• aortic heart disease.

Symptoms of cardiac asthma

The appearance of the disease contributes:

• increase in the volume of circulation( with fever, physical exertion);
• increase in total blood mass( during pregnancy);
• horizontal position of the patient's body.

The consequence of blood stasis and pressure buildup in the lung capillaries is pulmonary edema leading to abnormal gas exchange in the alveoli and permeability through the bronchioles, which leads to dyspnea.

During the day, cardiac asthma may occur when:

• physical overload;
• emotional breakdowns;
• increases blood pressure;
• plentiful drink and food;
• attacks of angina pectoris.

Often an attack of cardiac asthma is accompanied by a strong palpitation, tightness in the chest.

At night the patient can wake up from:

• of shortness of breath;
• lack of air;
• chest tightness;
• of fear and anxiety;
• attacks of dry cough.

At this time the patient necessarily rises, sits up on the bed or rises from it, because in this position, attacks of dyspnea begin to pass.

The number of cycles of breathing per minute can reach thirty breaths-exhalations.

In the lungs can be listened to wheezing, hard breathing, wet finely bubbling rales. Over time, a picture of increasing dyspnoea accompanied by alveolar edema of the lungs and a cough with a pale pink frothy liquid may develop.

Tachycardia may be noted. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a significant pulse deficit.

Diagnosis of cardiac asthma

Differential diagnosis is put together with bronchial asthma, because it usually occurs against the background of other allergic manifestations. Her attacks pass with a small change in the frequency of breathing and a significant elongation of exhalation. Sputum secreted by coughing has the appearance of thick mucus. When you exhale, veins swell around your neck, and when you breathe out, they collapse.

Serious support in differential diagnosis is able to show the registration of an electrocardiogram that was taken during an attack. This is especially important when an attack occurs for the first time in a patient without previous manifestations of heart failure.

On these grounds, it is possible to suggest acute heart diseases:

• myocarditis;
• myocardial infarction and the like.

Emergency care for cardiac asthma

In the event that the first medical aid for cardiac asthma can not be provided, either the paramedic or the nurse are engaged in urgent therapy of the patient.

The patient is helped:

• is comfortable to sit in an armchair or in bed;
• lower their legs to the floor;
• abdomen is released from the belt or from the waist;
• provides an influx of fresh air to the patient;
• oxygen therapy is performed;
• under the tongue give a tablet of nitroglacerin.

Intravenously injected furosemide( lasix), and with exacerbation of an attack of suffocation, morphine is prescribed. In the case when cardiac asthma is accompanied by a ciliary tachycardia, administration of a cardiac glycoside( digoxin, strophanthine, korglikon) is prescribed, which, of course, is best performed under the supervision of the doctor and at his appointment.

In the event of acute heart damage, treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed.

Treatment of cardiac asthma

Treatment is often carried out in an emergency, at the stage of so-called precursors( the possibility of a lethal outcome).

The sequence of therapeutic actions is determined by the availability of time and availability of certain drugs.

Treatment is performed according to the following scheme:

1. Patient calms down, relieve his emotional tension.

2. Sitting the patient on the edge of the bed.

3. Put nitroglycerin under the tongue.

4. Intravenous or intramuscular injection of a solution of morphine and furosemide.

5 .Apply inhalation of oxygen( through a mask or catheter).

6. Intravenous injection of solutions of strophanthin and digoxin.

7 .With lesions of the alveolar membrane or with exacerbation of hypotension, hydrocortisone or prednisolone is prescribed.

8. If necessary, drain fluid and foam from the tracheobronchial tree, inhalation of the defoamer( antifensilane solution, 10%), antibiotics.

Treatment of cardiac asthma with folk remedies

We would like to offer you some tips and recipes from a bottomless treasure chest of folk knowledge.

• First of all, it is required to completely abandon smoking and alcohol, strong tea and coffee. You should always drink from a dried berry of cinnamon cinnamon, flowers and leaves of mother-and-stepmother or St. John's wort. Instead of sugar, you can add honey.
• If you feel the approach of an attack of cardiac asthma, you should: give up all physical work;do not panic;sit in a chair or on a chair and lean back;from close clothing should be disposed of.
• If the patient is in an unventilated room, immediate access to fresh air should be provided.
• You should completely stop drinking.
• Put the mustard on your feet and hands( make a foot hot bath).
• Make a light massage of the heart area( with sea buckthorn or fir oil).
• In case of cardiac asthma, the mummy is recommended.
• It is good to drink goat's milk before breakfast.