Your heart condition is getting worseTreatment isn’t working as well as it needs to beYou’re having side effects from your heart-failure medicationYou have undiagnosed heart failure
This article explores the symptoms and causes of a cardiac cough and when to get medical help for it.
What Are the Symptoms of a Cardiac Cough?
The symptoms of a cardiac cough vary depending on the specific cause. Possible symptoms include:
A wet cough that produces sputum (mucus) that may be slightly pink due to blood Heavy wheezing, or a whistling sound that happens while breathing, accompanied by coughing Shortness of breath while engaging in activities or lying down Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (waking up due to coughing and shortness of breath) A bubbling feeling in the chest due to fluid buildup in the lungs A long-term dry cough that doesn’t get better when treated
If you’re showing signs of a cardiac cough, you may also have other symptoms of heart failure such as fatigue and swelling.
Causes of Cardiac Coughing
Congestive heart failure causes excess fluid (congestion) to build up in your body. That adds to your blood volume and can ease the strain on your heart.
When this fluid builds up in the alveoli (air sacs) in your lungs, it’s called lung congestion. The cardiac cough is your body’s attempt to clear out the fluid.
Causes of lung congestion include:
Worsening heart failure Your prescription heart medication not working as effectively as it should (possibly due to worsening heart failure) Not taking your heart medication as prescribed A side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, a type of medication commonly prescribed for heart failure
The cough from ACE inhibitors tends to be a dry, hacking cough. If it’s bad enough, you may need to switch to a different heart medication.
If you suspect this side effect, let your healthcare provider know right away. Don’t stop taking your heart medication without their approval, even if you think it’s triggering your cough.
Heart Failure and Lung Disease
Sometimes, a cough is mistaken for a symptom of lung disease when it’s actually a heart problem triggered by lung disease.
A type of right-sided heart disease called cor pulmonale is always caused by lung disease. Potential causes include:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lung) Autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma Cystic fibrosis Severe bronchiectasis (widening of the airways) Scars in the lung tissues (interstitial lung disease) Obstructive sleep apnea
Because of the threat to your heart, don’t assume a new or different type of cough is because of your respiratory condition.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should contact your healthcare provider if:
There was an error. Please try again.
You have heart failure and are coughingYou start coughing soon after a change in heart-failure medications or dosage adjustmentYou aren’t diagnosed with heart disease but have a cough and other symptoms that could point to heart failureYou have lung disease and develop a new type of cough or worsening cough
A cardiac cough can easily be mistaken for a cough with a different cause, such as a cold or allergies. It’s safest not to make assumptions about the cause and to it get checked out.
Summary
In heart failure, the heart doesn’t pump blood efficiently. It’s often tied to a cardiac cough.
Heart failure causes fluid retention, which can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs. This fluid triggers a cough as the body tries to clear it out. It can also be caused by medicine that’s ineffective or not taken properly, and medications like ACE inhibitors.
Contact your healthcare provider if you suspect a cardiac cough. Don’t stop taking your medications with their approval and don’t try to treat the cough yourself.
