Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Cor pulmonaleoccurs when the blood pressure in thepulmonary artery—which carries blood from the heart to the lungs—increases and leads to the enlargement and subsequent failure of the right side of the heart. It also can occur with chronic low oxygen levels due to conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cor pulmonale symptoms can includefatigue,swelling, and chest pain.Cor pulmonale is a progressive condition that can rapidly worsen. If left untreated, it may be life-threatening.
This article explains cor pulmonale causes and how the condition is diagnosed. While there is no cure and cor pulmonale won’t go away, a number of treatment options can help to improve symptoms.
KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images
Cor Pulmonale Symptoms
The early symptoms of cor pulmonale can go unnoticed because the causative lung disease also causes symptoms, and some effects may be similar. To make matters even more confusing, symptoms of cor pulmonale often develop as the underlying lung condition worsens.
Common effects of cor pulmonale include:
When Cor Pulmonale Is an EmergencyWith cor pulmonale, some potentially life-threatening symptoms may signal a medical emergency include. Seek immediate help if you experience:Severe dyspnea at restEnlarged neck veins (jugular vein distention)Chest painSyncope(loss of consciousness, fainting)Abdominal swellingBluish tinge to your skin, nail bed, lips, or gums (cyanosis)Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale can lead to severe fluid retention which, in turn, can cause life-threatening dyspnea, shock, and even death.
When Cor Pulmonale Is an Emergency
With cor pulmonale, some potentially life-threatening symptoms may signal a medical emergency include. Seek immediate help if you experience:Severe dyspnea at restEnlarged neck veins (jugular vein distention)Chest painSyncope(loss of consciousness, fainting)Abdominal swellingBluish tinge to your skin, nail bed, lips, or gums (cyanosis)Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale can lead to severe fluid retention which, in turn, can cause life-threatening dyspnea, shock, and even death.
With cor pulmonale, some potentially life-threatening symptoms may signal a medical emergency include. Seek immediate help if you experience:
Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale can lead to severe fluid retention which, in turn, can cause life-threatening dyspnea, shock, and even death.
How to Manage Progressive Pulmonary Hypertension
Cor Pulmonale Causes
Common causes of cor pulmonale include:
Is Cor Pulmonale Related to COPD?COPD is a common cause of heart failure,especially cor pulmonale. COPD is a group of pulmonary diseases that include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are progressive conditions that are associated with a number of complications.
Is Cor Pulmonale Related to COPD?
COPD is a common cause of heart failure,especially cor pulmonale. COPD is a group of pulmonary diseases that include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are progressive conditions that are associated with a number of complications.
Are My Symptoms From COPD, Heart Failure, or Both?
Effect on the Heart
The heart hasfour chambers—left atria, left ventricle, right atria, and right ventricle. Cor pulmonale is right heart failure due to high pressure in the pulmonary arteries (arteries that lead from the heart to the lungs). As this condition develops, the right ventricle becomes dilated (widened) and thickened, and later the right atrium may be affected as well.
Pulmonary hypertensionoccurs when the pressure in the arteries of the lungs are higher than they should be, which eventually makes it harder for the right ventricle to do its job. Any condition that leads to pulmonary hypertension can put a strain on the right ventricle.
Why COPD Causes Swelling
How Is Cor Pulmonale Diagnosed?
The diagnosis for cor pulmonale is usually made in the healthcare provider’s office. A physical exam typically picks up any abnormal heart sounds or rhythm, fluid retention, or protruding neck veins.
To provide a definitive diagnosis, your healthcare provider may also perform the following tests:
Pulmonary artery catheterization, with the insertion of a catheter into the pulmonary artery to check for heart failure, also can be done. A scan to check for ventilation/perfusion (VQ) mismatch, which uses radioactive materials to examine the airflow and blood flow into the lung, also can be done.
What Is Ventilation/Perfusion (V/Q) Mismatch?
Cor Pulmonale Treatment
Treatment for cor pulmonale is focused on addressing the underlying illness. There are also a few treatments that can alleviate some effects of heart failure.
Management of the underlying lung condition can include:
Pulmonary Embolism Treatment and Management
The use ofcalcium channel blockersis complicated when it comes to cor pulmonale. These drugs prevent calcium from entering the cells of blood vessel walls and may relax the pulmonary arteries, reducing pulmonary hypertension, but they may also adversely affect the heart and respiratory function in some instances.
Treatments aimed at alleviating the effects of cor pulmonale include:
A heart transplant may be considered in very advanced cases, and alung transplantmay be considered for some types of lung disease. Keep in mind that pulmonary hypertension associated with cor pulmonale has negative impact on life expectancy.
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Heart Transplant
Summary
Cor pulmonale is a serious heart condition that develops as a complication of advanced lung disease, most often COPD. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath with exertion, chest pain, dizziness, and a bluish tinge to the skin (cyanosis).
Treatment can include supplemental oxygen, and a number of medications to protect against blood clots and improve heart function and blood flow.
Because there is no treatment that can reverse cor pulmonale, prevention is key. Strategies for prevention include avoidance of smoking and airborne pollution as well as careful management of your lung disease. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about cor pulmonale.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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