Patient's question:
My distant relative recently passed away, and when my family and I went to attend his funeral, I asked about the disease he had passed away from. His son said it was cor pulmonale. I had never heard of this disease before, let alone knowing what symptoms it has. Hello, what are the symptoms of advanced cor pulmonale?Doctor's answer:
Cor pulmonale is a gradual worsening of lung function on the basis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to gradual expansion and involving the heart, resulting in changes in cardiac function and the development of pulmonary heart disease. The main clinical manifestations include chest tightness, palpitations, inability to exercise, dyspnea, shortness of breath, orthopnea, changes in consciousness, conjunctival edema, heart failure, and edema of the lower extremities, among others. Treatment first focuses on controlling the primary disease while reducing cardiac load as the foundation.