They both also progress over time and tend to affect smokers over the age of 60.
Comparing Symptoms
Shortness of breath and fatigue are the most prominent effects of CHF and COPD.
Orthopneais dyspnea that is worse when lying flat.
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This is a common characteristic of CHF and it occurs in very advanced stages of COPD.
Exacerbations
Both conditions can involve exacerbations, which are episodes characterized by worsening symptoms.
For both conditions, exacerbations can occur when you don’t take your medication as directed.
Of greater concern, CHF and COPD exacerbations can each happen without an obvious trigger.
Both types of exacerbations can be life-threatening and require medical attention.
Causes
Sometimes COPD and CHF occur together.
Despite this, specific physical damage that leads to each illness is different.
Lung damage causes COPD, and heart damage causes CHF.
The damage occurs slowly and gradually in both conditions, and it is irreversible.
How COPD Develops
Severe lung inflammation and injurycause COPD.
This occurs due to smoking, secondhand smoke, airborne toxin exposure, and/or recurrent lung infections.
Over time, repeated lung injury results in thickened, narrow airways that make it hard to breathe.
Damaged lungs and thickened airways also produce pressure on the blood vessels in the lungs, resulting inpulmonary hypertension.
This eventually leads tocor pulmonalea punch in ofright heart failurecaused by lung disease.
How CHF Develops
Typically, CHF occurs due to heart disease.
The resulting heart muscle damage and diminished heart-pumping ability are described as heart failure.
Fatigue is consistently present in both conditions.
With CHF, your dyspnea can be constant and stable.
Dyspnea is more likely to fluctuate with COPD.These slight differences will be noted by your healthcare provider.
However, there are some key differences.
With COPD, pulmonary function may or may not improve after treatment with abronchodilator.
Often, the heart looks enlarged when a person has CHF.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram (echo)is an ultrasound that examines the heart as it is pumping.
Treatment
The most important strategy when it comes to managing CHF and/or COPD is to stop smoking.
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 formanaging COPD.
Exacerbations and late-stage cases of COPD and CHF may involveoxygen therapy.
Sometimes, COPD exacerbations also may be associated with lung infections that require antibiotic treatment.
Modified Treatment for Combined COPD and CHF
Some medications used for COPD can exacerbate CHF.
In COPD, beta-agonists dilate the airways, but they can also impair heart function.
In fact, beta-blockers, which actuallyopposethe action of beta-agonists, are typically used in CHF.
Regular exercise improves your heart and lung function.
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.
Stress also triggers COPD exacerbations, and recurrent exacerbations cause COPD to worsen.
As such, stress management plays a role in reducing the progression of both conditions.
You may need urgent treatment for an exacerbation and/or and adjustment of your maintenance medications.
