Asthma is a disease of lower respiratory tract which causes swelling and contraction in bronchi and bronchioles, parts of lower respiratory pathways. Most commonly Asthma is regarded as a lung disease, lesser known to common man is the fact that Asthma can be due to cardiac problems as well. Both forms of the disease have got specific cause, characteristics, diagnosis and treatment. One similarity between the two forms is that both forms are difficult to cure completely rather management is the rule, or we can say symptomatic treatment along with prevention of further complications. Management of asthma enables a person to lead a normal life with full activities. None of these two forms are transferable from one person to another.

What is Cardiac Asthma?

Cardiac Asthma is commonly known as severe pulmonary oedema. This type of asthma is not respiratory but cardiac in origin. It is not an actual variety of asthma but is called so because it symptomatology resembles asthma. It causes symptoms similar to respiratory asthma i.e. cough, difficulty in breathing, dyspnoea, orthopnoea, pink frothy sputum, and panting. Disease process involves complete failure of heart functions leading to accumulation of fluid in lungs which causes symptoms of breathing difficulty and others. This disease is age specific and affects elderly people. It is not a contagious disease but it is included in medical emergencies and needs to be treated at once but the treatment modality is different than that of actual asthma. It is important to be able to discriminate between Cardiac and Respiratory Asthma for treatment or management.

What is Respiratory Asthma?

It is actual asthma which is characterised by repeated episodes of cough, shortness of breath, and wheeze. It results from obstruction of the airways, which is reversible in nature. It is also age-specific and generally affects children.  It affects about 5-8% of the people. It is classified into three types: mild, moderate and severe asthma. In mild form, symptoms may disappear on their own when the causative agent is removed, moderate and severe forms needs medicines and may be a hospital stay is needed. The cough is mostly nocturnal, meaning occurring at night.

Symptoms include, cough, sputum, intermittent dyspnoea and wheeze. Respiratory Asthma has several precipitating factors, for example, Allergens (pollens, dust, and mites), cold air, exercise, smoking, pollution, etc.

Cardiac Vs Respiratory Asthma

Origin:

Origin of cardiac asthma is due to heart related problems.

Respiratory asthma is due to respiratory pathology, which is reversible airway obstruction.

Causes:

Cardiac asthma is due to heart malfunction.

Respiratory asthma is due to allergy to different things in external environment.

Age group:

Cardiac asthma is seen in old age.

Respiratory asthma is seen in children or young aged people.

Antibody titer:

IgE antibodies are not raised in cardiac asthma.

A very high level of IgE antibodies is diagnostic to asthma.

Chest pain:

In cardiac asthma, chest pain is transferred to shoulder, left arm and jaws.

Respiratory asthma only shows chest tightness.

Association with allergens:

Cardiac asthma is not influenced by allergens e.g. pollens, dust and pets.

Respiratory asthma is associated with these allergens.

Hereditary transfer:

  • Cardiac asthma is not transferred through genes.

Respiratory asthma has got strong family history.

Treatment:

Cardiac asthma involves treatment of underlying grounds i.e. heart failure.

Respiratory asthma involves use of steroids and bronchodilators.

Note: Please consult your doctor before taking any medications.

Related terms:

Dyspnoea = Shortness of Breath.

Orthopnoea = difficulty in breathing while lying down.

Conclusion

Asthma is a disease with no cure. It has got two forms i.e. respiratory and cardiac. Both the diseases affect different people and are treated differently. In both types, patient is advised to take rest and be compliant with medications to improve quality of life. In order to get these diseases cured the patient should regularly go the doctor for checkup.

Sources:

Wikipedia.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine.

Davidson’s textbook of medicine.