Patient's question:
Recently, I've been experiencing chest pain and tightness in my chest. The hospital examination suggested a respiratory disease, but the medication hasn't been very effective. Recently, my cough has worsened. Could you please tell me the symptoms of late-stage cor pulmonale?Doctor's answer:
Cor pulmonale, also known as pulmonary heart disease, is a condition caused by long-term chronic bronchitis and emphysema leading to pulmonary artery hypertension, which results in heart failure. If symptoms such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and generalized edema occur, they can progress to respiratory failure and cor pulmonale encephalopathy in severe cases. Currently, there is no cure, and the goal of treatment is to stabilize symptoms. Daily precautions include preventing colds to avoid acute relapses, ensuring adequate rest to prevent overexertion, quitting smoking and alcohol, and maintaining a regular lifestyle.