What is the effect of an emphysema on the heart?
Empyzema limits the patient's ability to obtain the necessary amount of oxygen through the lungs. Although it has an immediate impact on the patient's quality of life, the emphysema can also have long -term and life -threatening effects on other organs of the body, namely the heart. The effect of the heart emphysema may include increased blood pressure, heart enlargement and heart failure.
Small air bags in the lungs are called alveoli. During the inhalation, air enters the lungs and passes through the bronchial tree into the alveoli, causing alveoli to expand. Oxygen molecules are transferred to red blood cells and move to give the rest of the body with much needed oxygenated blood. Carbon dioxide is transferred to alveoli so that it is exhaled. This damage causes a reduction in the blood oxygen content and makes it difficult to avoid the air from the lungs and inhale the new air. This also leads to a number of common symptoms of emphysema and the harmful effects of the heart emphysema. Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue and chronic cough. Effects of emphysema on heartCE is one of the related complications of emphysema. This is because the heart relies on the right level of well -oxygenated blood for proper functioning.
When the emphysema becomes more serious, the arteries of the lungs begin to narrow, making blood flow at the right speed. For this reason, the heart must pump harder to push the required amount of blood through the arteries. This increases the blood pressure in the arteries, which will lead to the lungs and lead to a condition known as lung hypertension. Hypertension can lead to enlargement of the heart muscle known as hypertrophy.
Empyzema can eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), which is often fatal. The main cause of the emphysema is smoking. Genetics, aging and lack of proteins can also increase the risk of developing an emphysema for smokers and non -smokers. Other possible causes include drug use, immune shortcomings and connective tissue -related diseases such as Marfan's syndrome.
Heart failure becomes a real problem when looking at the effects of emphysema on the heart. As the oxygen level deteriorates, the heart begins to fail under the added stress. Over time, this will result in the accumulation of fluids in the body and possibly to need care and management at the end of life, which is another impact of emphysema on the heart and body.