What is the Difference Between Bronchial Asthma and Cardiac Asthma?

Bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma are two distinct conditions with similar symptoms, but different causes and treatments. Here are the main differences between the two:

Causes:

Bronchial asthma is a long-term lung disease caused by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to wheezing and coughing.
Cardiac asthma is a breathing difficulty caused by fluid buildup in the lungs due to heart failure, specifically left-sided heart failure.

Symptoms:

Both conditions share symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. However, cardiac asthma symptoms are often more severe and may occur at night.

Diagnosis:

Bronchial asthma is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and lung function tests.
Cardiac asthma is diagnosed based on the presence of heart failure symptoms, such as rapid and shallow breathing, frothy or watery sputum, and clinical signs of heart failure.

Treatment:

Bronchial asthma treatment usually involves the use of bronchodilators and other medications to open the airways and reduce inflammation.
Cardiac asthma treatment focuses on addressing the underlying heart failure, which may include medications, lifestyle changes, and in severe cases, surgical intervention.

It is crucial to differentiate between bronchial and cardiac asthma to ensure proper treatment and prevent complications. If you experience symptoms of either condition, consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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What is the Difference Between Bronchial Asthma and Cardiac Asthma?

Comparative Table: Bronchial Asthma vs Cardiac Asthma

Here is a table comparing the differences between bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma:

Feature	Bronchial Asthma	Cardiac Asthma
Definition	A chronic condition caused by inflammation of the airways in the lungs, leading to narrowing and difficulty breathing.	A set of symptoms caused by heart failure, characterized by breathlessness, wheezing, and extreme discomfort.
Pathogenicity	Chronic, recurrent dyspnea with periodicity and risk of flare-ups and recurrences when exposed to causative factors.	Occurs in the background of cardiovascular diseases like cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease.
Symptoms	Include symptoms like tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, wheezing or whistling in the chest, and coughing, which may be worse at night.	Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, rapid and shallow breathing, frothy or watery sputum, and a dry cough.
Treatment	Diagnosed by checking the history and pulmonary function tests, and treated with bronchodilators.	Treatment generally doesn't respond to bronchodilators alone, and may include intravenous diuretics and other medications for managing heart failure.
Diagnosis	Diagnosed with pulmonary function tests and medical history.	Diagnosed with tests like ECG, 2D echocardiography, and other tests to assess heart function.
Prevalence	More common in children.	More common in older people.

It is essential to differentiate between bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma for accurate diagnosis and treatment, as misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment can worsen the patient's health.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.