I have chronic asthma. Over last year or so I’ve become increasingly breathless. my chest is heavy and tight and I struggle to breathe on any exertion. Even getting dressed and bathing is a big problem, on the last few months I’ve got chest pain if I don’t stop to reset when getting so breathless. I cough a lot and I’m wheezy a lot esp mornings.I’m tired all the time. I get palpitations when I’m just sitting and my heart sometimes bears very fast out of nowhere .
My doctor sent me to cardiology to check my heart. Scan was inconclusive but showed some diastolic impairment. X-ray said heart looked enlarged . ECG shows some effects of lack of oxygen. I was diagnosed with angina and sent for angiogram last week. The result was fortunately no blockages but the doct said my asthma is probably the cause of oxygen not getting to heart enough. My combined cholesterol is below 4 ( 3.6)which they seemed happy with but they prescribed statins anyway. I now have to go back to the GP to see what’s next .
Has anyone else had similar symptoms with their heart due to severe asthma or COPD ?
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April29
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I have mild asthma and a 'touch' of COPD but it doesn't too much interfere with my life. However it sounds like you need more support for your asthma management plan whatever than entails. And if you are not aware of it there are several communities on HealthUnlocked devoted to asthma and respiratory conditions if you search for them on here.
I have asthma aswell and cold weather especially makes it so much worse and having heart issues makes it way worse. I noticed I'm getting breathless aswell but turned out to be a vitamin b12 defincey aswell. Plus I noticed when I had a severe asthma attack few years back it majorly affected my heart I ended up in hospital for 2 weeks. Take care and keeps us updated 😉.
Thanjs - I will keep the group updated. I’m currently waiting a second echo scan but they ( hispital) have also suggested I see the respiratory team but have to be re- referred for that . I’m sure it’ll sort out in the end.
Some days I can’t walk upstairs without gasping in oxygen I have to sit on tne bed to recover even a bath can make me breathless or a long telephone call
Sorry to hear of your problems, it does sound very similar to me. I feel as though I’ve run a marathon just getting dressed some days.
I was advised to ask my doctor about a referral to the respiratory team, but first my cardiologist wants another echo scan so I’ll hold off until then.
My worry is that it’s both asthma and heart but they seem to keep passing me back and forth to ether team and in the meantime I’m getting worse .
Good luck sorting your breathing difficulties out too .
that’s about where I am . I have a angiography scan this week
I think I have a heart issue amd asthma but they are concentrating on the breathing being down to AF but at times I’m breathless amd I don’t feel I am in AF
I have asthma and COPD as well as heart block. When I get out of breath (eg when walking uphill), I am never sure if it is my heart or COPD to blame. I have a pacemaker which keeps my heart beating as normal, so I guess it must be the COPD.
Like you, I also get episodes where my heart beats too fast and I think it is due to the bronchodilators I take for my COPD - they are known to increase heart rate.
Thankyou for you input, that’s really interesting I hadn’t thought the bronchodilators might possibly cause the heart racing . I’m certainly finding that lung and heart problems may indeed be connnected in some way.
Yeah especially the blue inhaler salbutamol that is known to increase heart rate and give me palpitations which is why I avoid using it as much as possible only if i am severely breathless and wheezing. What inhalers do you take??? And what dose I am on clenil modulite 200 and salbutamol 200.
Thank you for your reply. I’ve had asthma for about 20 years . It’s got steadily worse in that time and is now quite bad. I’ve only recently been told my heart could be the problem and cause of my breathing difficulties. However, the arteries were not blocked but they seem to think the asthma is causing less oxygen to heart thereby putting strain on it. The jury seems to be out as to which is causing the other - (asthma causing heart problem or vice versa) although the asthma has been the longer problem. My lungs seem to be ok outside the asthma . I have a lot of steroids - tablets and inhalers - which help initial or flare up breathing problems and wheeze but don’t help the breathing difficulties when walking or doing anything really in the longer term. It’s a bit of a viscious circle . I’m still undergoing tests but it does seem that the two conditions are intertwined somehow .
Thank you again for your message, it’s good to hear from folk with similar problems and makes one feel less isolated .
Since writing my post I have had some results from the cardiologist - They have a confirmed diagnosis of heart disease by way of Chronic Heart Failure . The Left Ventricle Diastolic Pressure in my heart is quite elevated . They have also confirmed that the main cause is my asthma / lung disease and will go ahead with an echocardiogram to check pressures and EF further. . I’m the meantime at least I know the two conditions are very linked as I suspected.
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Enlarged Heart
chronic heart failure
dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure 
Can the doctor be wrong?
