Patient's question:
Recently, I've been experiencing chest pain and tightness in my chest. The hospital examination indicated a respiratory disease, but the medication hasn't been very effective. Recently, my cough has worsened. What is pulmonary heart disease?Doctor's answer:
It refers to cor pulmonale, which is primarily caused by chronic changes in lung tissue, pulmonary blood vessels, or the chest wall. These changes lead to abnormal lung tissue structure or function, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary artery pressure. This, in turn, causes right ventricular dilation or chronic right heart failure, either alone or accompanied by it. The expansion process is usually gradual, accompanied by symptoms such as cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Some patients may also experience chest pain or hemoptysis. In later stages, breathing difficulties may worsen, and symptoms like pulmonary edema or systemic failure may appear.