What is the difference between copd and congestive heart failure

Rales are the sounds we hear when the alveoli are partially filled with fluid. The sounds are similar to when a child or an adult blows through a straw into their drink. In severe pulmonary edema, that fluid has no other place to go and the bronchi become swollen and constricted, giving us the sounds of wheezing. CHF patients will typically present with elevated blood pressures and pedal edema, with their history often indicating abrupt onset of symptoms and their medications consistent with preload reducers and diuretics.

In contrast, COPD patients typically wheeze because the bronchi are constricted from irreversible destruction of lung tissue. The resulting narrowed passages for air give us the sounds we hear as wheezing. The patient with severe COPD may be severely constricted to the point that little air is moving through, and we may not hear anything. Thus, typical medications, history and exam findings will provide clues about the underlying condition.

CHF patients are often prescribed diuretics e. CHF exacerbations are typically brought on by dietary indiscretion e. With COPD, pulmonary function may or may not improve after treatment with a bronchodilator. While there can be some improvement in pulmonary function measurements after bronchodilator treatment in CHF, these improvements are minor.

Often, the heart looks enlarged when a person has CHF. With CHF exacerbation, fluid builds up in or around the lungs, and this can be seen on chest imaging studies. Imaging tests can show lung changes consistent with COPD, including thickening, inflammation, and bullae air-filled spaces in the lungs that compress healthy tissue. An e chocardiogram echo is an ultrasound that examines the heart as it is pumping. With an echo, your healthcare provider can observe the structure of your heart , blood flow in coronary heart arteries, and the pumping function of the heart muscle itself.

If heart function is reduced often described as a low ejection fraction , this could suggest CHF. An echo is not part of the diagnosis of COPD. Additionally, both of these conditions require maintenance treatment as well as treatment for exacerbations. Anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators such as beta-agonists are used for managing COPD.

Medications that promote heart muscle activity such as beta-blockers , diuretics that release of excess fluid, and prescriptions to control blood pressure are used in the long-term management of CHF.

Sometimes, COPD exacerbations also may be associated with lung infections that require antibiotic treatment. And a severe COPD exacerbation may impair breathing to such a degree that mechanical ventilation becomes necessary; this need for respiratory support is not as common in CHF exacerbations.

In COPD, beta-agonists dilate the airways, but they can also impair heart function. In fact, beta-blockers, which actually oppose the action of beta-agonists, are typically used in CHF. Experts suggest the use of cardioselective beta-blockers for the treatment of CHF in people who also have COPD because these medications specifically target the heart without interfering with lung function.

Regular exercise improves your heart and lung function. If you want some direction and guidelines, you can ask your healthcare provider for a physical therapy consultation as you get started on an exercise program. If you are overweight, weight loss will reduce the excess strain on your heart and lungs. Exercise is likely to help with weight loss as well. Stress contributes to hypertension, which worsens CHF. As such, stress management plays a role in reducing the progression of both conditions.

Whenever you sense that the effects of your condition or conditions are worsening, you should see your healthcare provider. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Characteristics associated with mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD -heart failure coexistence. Prim Health Care Res Dev. Vitacca M, Paneroni M. The role of viral infections in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Ther Adv Respir Dis.

Cardiac Imaging in Heart Failure with Comorbidities. Curr Cardiol Rev. Casu G, Merella P. Eur Cardiol. Cardiol Rev. Statements on this website are for informational purposes only and are not to be construed as altering the applicable standard of care. Likewise, such statements should not be interpreted as a guarantee that prospective or current patients of CIS will achieve any particular health outcome. CIS Blog. See All. Nov 21 November 21 Posted by CIS Staff. Shortness of Breath from Heart Failure Congestive heart failure CHF is a condition that occurs when the heart becomes too weak to effectively pump blood out to the rest of the body.

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