Breathing difficulties are associated with many different health problems mostly those caused by your lungs like COPD, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and etcetera.
Other general conditions such as allergies, panic attacks, fever, anxiety, and obesity can also cause some breathing issues. In some situations, however, your heart can be the major reason why you cannot breathe comfortably without complications.
Sometimes, breathing conditions can be fatal. Research shows clearly, according to The Economic Times India, that respiratory problems account for about 7% of deaths in the country of India. Throughout this account, we focus on breathing difficulties that are connected with heart problems.
Connection between the Heart and Breathing
Your heart and lungs are one of the most delicate organs within your body. And both of them are intimately linked. These organs strain every nerve to ensure that all your body cells get as much oxygen is required to maintain a normal life.
Without enough oxygen, normal circulation by the heart is disrupted and the cells are suffocated. This may cause a condition known as hypoxia. Symptoms include headache, SOB, confusion, fast breathing, restlessness, rapid or slow heart rate, chest pains, wheezing, and hypertension.
The following is a process that shows a close connection between your lungs and heart.
- Breathing begins the whole process. Air enters through the nose and into the lungs where oxygen is obtained and attached to hemoglobin, a certain protein of the red-blood-cells.
- Blood is now oxygenated and travels back to-the-heart. The heart performs the work of pumping such blood into the body organs, tissues, and cells through the aorta and other blood vessels.
- Once blood reaches the cells, oxygen is used up and carbon (IV) oxide released. Blood returns back to-the-heart but when deoxygenated (meaning without oxygen).
- Once it reaches the heart through the vena cava, it is pumped back into the lungs where carbon (IV) oxide is obtained and breathed out. Air is inhaled again and the process repeats.
- This close relationship between the two organs is so powerful that if you experience issues with your heart, it can cause serious complications in your lungs.
For instance, when your heart is damaged or diseased, it cannot efficiently pump blood to everybody organ. This can affect your lungs significantly, impairing your entire breathing system.
However, it is recommended to always pay attention closely to both functions of the heart and breathing. Either of the organs can be a source of your breathing difficulties.
Complications of the Heart that affect Breathing
The following conditions of the heart can make your breathing difficult, uncomfortable, or feel like you are suffocating or not getting a sufficient amount of air.
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
This condition is caused by the blockage of the-major-arteries that convey blood to the heart. This starves the muscles of the heart of oxygen leading shortness of breath and chest pains. Gradually, when not treated, it causes the death of some heart cells. When one section of a heart muscle dies, it increases the risk of having more breathing difficulties and also developing heart failure. MI is a serious issue and immediate treatment is required.
Heart Failure
This happens when one of the muscles of-the-heart has been impaired due to conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and among others. In this situation, your heart becomes too stiff and weak. It cannot, therefore, work as efficiently as it should. Breathing difficulties are the common symptoms of this condition, particularly in the early stages. This is noticeable when performing exercises. In the event, you may feel weak and very tired even when resting.
Arrhythmia (abnormal and irregular-heartbeat)
This is another serious issue that can result in experiencing breathing problems. But most arrhythmias are less serious. When you have tachycardia (too fast-heart-beats) or bradycardia (too-slow-heartbeats), your breathing can respectively become rapid or slow. If this condition is associated with a damaged or weakened heart, it can lead to serious problems or even death.
Other conditions include cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and pulmonary edema.
Diagnosis of the Breathing Issues Related to Heart Problems
When being diagnosed with the cause of your breathing difficulty, there are various things you expect from your doctor. You will first be examined and asked questions about your previous symptoms and also medical history. You should be able to answer your doctor based on when you started having breathing complications.
For more accurate results, your doctor may use a variety of tools for remote cardiac monitoring such as a holter monitor. The device is useful in situations when an electrocardiogram test has been performed but was not able to give outstanding results. The following are the characteristics of this device.
- Observes irregularities in the rhythm of the heart
- Determine whether you need medication, a pacemaker, or further diagnosis
- Portable and works on a battery
- Monitors ECG when performing your normal duties. This is done continuously for a day or two
- Fitted to your chest using electrodes. Shaving will be done first if you have a hairy chest
- Can be carried on a pouch, attached to the wrist, or slung around-the-neck and shoulders like a camera
- Worn particularly when you have arrhythmias
Remote cardiac monitoring is very important to the health of patients suffering from heart conditions. It also saves expenses and time of having to visit the doctors every time for regular checkups. It has been found that people who ECG as compared to those who never use them.
Your doctor may determine other possible methods of treatment based on the results of your diagnosis.
Summing Up
Many problems related to breathing can be prevented by avoiding allergens and triggers, eating little meals, taking some medications for allergies, and exercising regularly. Avoiding smoking and living a lifestyle that is more healthful can help.
Author bio:
Sathya Kumar is the Founder & CEO of Cardiac Rhythm .Cardiac Rhythm’s biosensor is an unobtrusive, easy to use the device for the patient’s long-term Holter monitoring, cardiac ECG monitoring and real-time mobile cardiac telemetry monitoring. The innovative, portable biosensor remotely monitors the health of patients and provides physicians with deeper clinical-grade data insights.
