Can COPD cause heart failure? Yes. Here’s why & what you need to do.

Heart disease has some really unfortunate statistics when it comes to deaths in the US. It’s the leading cause of death in the country. 

What’s less known is that chronic lower respiratory disease is also high on the list. It’s in the third spot.

Alarming. 

Among the chronic lower respiratory diseases that kill many Americans is COPD. It stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

Summary

COPD can definitely cause heart failure. The most common cause of right-sided heart failure is COPD because of low oxygen levels that subsequently cause high blood pressure. To avoid heart failure from COPD, you need to take measures to lower your blood pressure.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the following:

• Different types of COPD
• The underlying causes

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Here’s something that not everyone realizes. 

Heart disease and COPD may look very similar to the untrained eye. 

Shortness of breath is something you’ll experience whether you have one condition or the next. It’s a hallmark sign that shows something might be wrong. 

Let’s take a closer look at the individual components so you can hopefully help stay in better health. 

Table of Contents

• What is COPD?
• Types of COPD
• What causes COPD & what are the risk factors? 
• Symptoms of COPD
• Shortness of Breath from Heart Failure
• Shortness of Breath from COPD
• COPD and heart failure
• Right-sided heart failure
• Left-sided heart failure
• Oxygen therapy
• Wellue Bluetooth Pulse Oximeter
• FAQ

What is COPD?

Did you know that COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease? The inflammation causes issues as the airways are obstructed, and the airflow has a harder time getting from the lung.

Breathing difficulties, coughing, wheezing, and mucus stems from your being affected by this disease. 

What’s unfortunate about COPD is that it worsens over time, with breathing increasingly difficult. It happens as less air flows in and out, affecting 15 million American adults. Yes, it’s no party living with the condition. 

Lots can be done to avoid getting it, which we’ll get into later. 

Types of COPD

Two main conditions cover COPD in the United States:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema. 

The former is caused when there’s damage to the walls between air sacs in the lungs. These sacs fill up with air as oxygen is breathed in and are stretchy without the condition. Deflation happens as the air leaves the sacks. Emphysema makes it harder for air to leave. 

Repeated inflammation is what causes Chronic bronchitis, more specifically in the lining of the airways. You probably know how mucus can be annoying with the common cold. With bronchitis, more mucus makes breathing difficult. 

COPD is often caused b a mixture of the two diseases. The severity of each will vary. 

What causes COPD & what are the risk factors?

One of the biggest things causing COPD is smoking. However, it’s not the only thing that’s causing it. 30% of people that get the condition never smoked. 

Another thing causing it is alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. 

Symptoms of COPD

Excessive mucus is a consequence of COPD, created when coughing happens. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness are other symptoms.

Routine activities become a chore as the condition worsens. By the time it progresses, taking care of yourself becomes tedious. Activities like walking or cooking will take your breath away. 

Oxygen levels are diminished, and life gets far harder as it progresses. 

COPD Type	Symptoms
Chronic bronchitis	Persistent cough with mucus production.
Emphysema	Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity.
Asthma-COPD overlap	Wheezing and chest tightness. Shortness of breath, especially during exacerbations, is common.
Refractory (non-reversible) COPD	Persistent symptoms despite treatment. You’ll also experience shortness of breath and chronic cough.

Shortness of Breath from Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure causes the heart to weaken. It means blood is no longer pumped around the body as it should. Backing up fluid levels causes issues for the heart and lungs. The consequence of that – is shortness of breath.

Small amounts of exercise or activity cause exertion, making it hard to function. 

Shortness of Breath from COPD

Physical activity in those with COPD causes shortness of breath. Shortness of breath arises as oxygen and carbon dioxide are not leaving the body as intended. As the air sacs aren’t working properly, someone exhaling with COPD gets shortness of breath.

COPD and heart failure

The symptoms may largely look the same regarding congestive heart failure and COPD. Heart failure comes in two shapes, though. One’s left-sided, and the other one is right-sided. Heart failure can either be related to or worsened by COPD. 

Right-sided heart failure

COPD can cause right-sided heart failure in extreme cases. A rise in blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries happens as the body struggles with low oxygen levels. The condition is called pulmonary hypertension.

Additional strain is put on the ventricle, which is responsible for pushing blood through the lungs. Heart failure can occur as the muscle becomes weaker over time. 

Left-sided heart failure

COPD and left-sided heart failure are not directly caused by one another. An exacerbation can happen if a patient suffers from both. Additional stress is placed on the heart due to lower oxygen levels. Worsening symptoms can be expected as a consequence. 

Fluid buildup happens in the lung, which makes the COPD worse. 

Understanding the connection

The connection between heart failure and COPD is important to keep in mind. The risk of heart failure is increased in people with COPD, and continuing to smoke will only worsen the symptoms. Smokers are at risk of COPD and heart failure due to their lifestyles. 

Seeking the medical guidance of a cardiologist can monitor your health, especially if you’re looking to make a change.

Understanding the differences

It can be hard to tell whether your shortness of breath is caused by one or the other. 

The difference between the two is often investigated through a physical examination. It includes:

• listening to both your heart and lungs
• The veins in your neck are explored to see if it’s one or the other. 

Fluid buildup in your lungs can be seen using a chest x-ray. It’s a sign of heart failure. On the other hand, COPD does not flood the lungs with additional fluids. However, over-inflation is a sign of COPD.

Brain natriuretic peptide is studied in the blood. Higher-than-usual levels indicate heart failure.

Cardiac enzymes are examined in a blood test. These can help see if it’s a heart condition. Issues there will put additional strain on the heart.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test to evaluate your various organs. Looking at the valves, pumping strength, and heart, it’s determined whether it’s a heart issue.

COPD treatment

It’s important to make sure you start changing your habits when COPD is discovered. The biggest improvement you can make includes:

• putting cigarettes away
• start including healthier life choices daily. 

It also helps if you start becoming more active to help slow down the progression. 

Pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and medicines are other options that can help you deal with the situation you’re in. 

Oxygen therapy

To increase your oxygen levels, oxygen therapy is used. Oxygen is delivered in myriad ways, including a face mask or tube placed in your trachea. 

It can be delivered both at the hospital and at home. However, it’s important to know that oxygen deficiency causes certain issues. However, introducing additional oxygen increases the fire risk. 

For that reason, flammable materials need to be kept far away from oxygen sources. 

It’s common to experience a range of side effects with this treatment. They include:

• Morning headaches
• Tiredness
• Bloody & dry nose.

Wellue Bluetooth Pulse Oximeter

Here’s a good oximeter that can measure oxygen levels.

Name	Bluetooth Pulse Oximeter
Weight	4.16 Ounces
Special feature	Bluetooth & app
Package dimensions	3.46 x 2.76 x 1.65 inches
Number of Batteries	2 AAA batteries require
Manufacturer	Creative Medical
Brand	Wellue
Are Batteries Included	Yes

Medicines

Medicines usually come in two forms:

• steroids
• bronchodilators

It’s administered through an inhaler, ensuring it can easily reach your lungs. While some inhalers are slightly different, they typically work largely the same way. It’s important that you follow your doctor’s recommendation if you’re put on such medicine. 

The medicine that’s prescribed will depend on the severity of the condition. Long-acting bronchodilators are administered in more severe cases. When flaring up happens, the steroid can be given in addition. 

Steroids can reduce inflammation, whereby airways are partially cleared up. A doctor will often work with you over an extended period to figure out what solution works in your given situation. 

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a broader approach that seeks to tackle unhealthy aspects of your life. It includes:

• exercise training
• and an improvement to your overall health.

Breathing techniques are taught to best cope with your condition. 

Surgery

Some people with COPD benefit from surgery. However, it’s not a desirable approach if other treatments prove effective. It’s usually done to people experiencing severe symptoms. 

Surgery can include:

• lung volume reduction surgery
• one-way endobronchial valves that are implanted
• or bullectomy. 

Lung transplant

A lung transplant is a big, invasive measure. It includes replacing the diseased lung. Severe or chronic lung cases can improve their quality of life through this procedure. It can also be done when other options have been tried without success.

Recovery is extensive, and you can expect to spend 1 to 3 weeks at the hospital following the surgery. Special medication is administered to ensure your body does not reject the new organ. Additional changes are important to ensure the safekeeping of your body following such an invasive measure. 

COPD exacerbation

Patients with COPD will go through episodes of exacerbation where symptoms worsen. Morbidity and mortality increase, and the quality of life decreases. Additional inflammation caused worsened breathing. Flare-ups cause respiratory symptoms to become more severe. 

Viruses and bacteria can cause these exacerbations, infecting the airway. Faster disease progression is often seen in patients prone to flare-ups. Stronger medication is often given to help keep flare-ups at bay.

However, patients are encouraged to take additional measures to avoid excessive inflammation.

Is COPD curable?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for COPD, only treatment. Patients are encouraged to work with doctors and consider lifestyle choices to ensure the best possible quality of life. 

What do lungs with COPD look like?

Lungs with COPD will often look hyperinflated on an x-ray. A flatter diaphragm is common, and the lungs will appear larger than normal, as will the heart.

COPD life expectancy

Milder cases of COPD can live into their 90s. Other health problems can shorten your life, and pneumonia and respiratory failure are definite options. 

COPD breath sounds

Patients with COPD will experience their breath clicking or crackling as they breathe in. The sounds can make either sound particularly coarse or fine. 

Oxygen saturation in COPD

Healthy individuals will have oxygen levels ranging from 95% to 100%. However, oxygen saturation in COPD is generally around 88% to 92%. An oximeter can tell you where your readings are at. 

FAQ