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What Causes Breathlessness And Severe Cough Post Stent In Right Coronary Artery?
What would cause shortness of breath on exertion of any kind , unable to sleep after a meal in evening Had 4stints put in right coronary artery a year ago Have been back to heart doctor and they say they cant find anything wrong, Pulmonary test say nothing is wrong GI say I have a hernia small and some esophagitis but nothing that causes SOB,Sometimes at night my ankles and feet turn blue and edematous and I cough a lot and on occasion pass out from coughing Now something is wrong and I want to live a quality life. I am 72 years old and use to walking 6 miles a day.
Fri, 28 Aug 2015
Greetings. Welcome to HCM and thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
Well, in the scenario where your cardiologist and lung specialist say that everything is fine, we have to seek for other causes of this situation. My first assumption was that you had these stents placed in a terrain of an acute myocardial infarction. In that case, a certain part of the heart muscle would be damaged and produce decreasing of the left ventricular function - rising of pressures in lung circulation - shortness of breath. My assumption is also based on the fact that your legs get swollen. If this is the case, then you should restrict your physical activity, to activities that do not produce shortness of breath, restrict salt from your diet.
As about the cough, many patients that were subject to stent implantation or any cardiovascular disease, usually have angiotensinogen converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) in therapy. These are very effective, safe drugs for fighting high blood pressure and also help a great deal in heart function and in inhibiting the bad remodeling mechanisms that happens to the heart, after a heart attack. But, up to 15% of cases they exert a side effect - dry cough. If this is the case, switch to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB: the "sartans"), and the dry cough should subside after three weeks.
The passing out episodes, if they are with a loss of consciousness, then further investigation is mandated: EKG, 24-hour rhythm monitor and echoDoppler of carotid (neck) arteries.
I hope I was of help. Good day.
Regards,
Dr. Meriton
Well, in the scenario where your cardiologist and lung specialist say that everything is fine, we have to seek for other causes of this situation. My first assumption was that you had these stents placed in a terrain of an acute myocardial infarction. In that case, a certain part of the heart muscle would be damaged and produce decreasing of the left ventricular function - rising of pressures in lung circulation - shortness of breath. My assumption is also based on the fact that your legs get swollen. If this is the case, then you should restrict your physical activity, to activities that do not produce shortness of breath, restrict salt from your diet.
As about the cough, many patients that were subject to stent implantation or any cardiovascular disease, usually have angiotensinogen converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) in therapy. These are very effective, safe drugs for fighting high blood pressure and also help a great deal in heart function and in inhibiting the bad remodeling mechanisms that happens to the heart, after a heart attack. But, up to 15% of cases they exert a side effect - dry cough. If this is the case, switch to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB: the "sartans"), and the dry cough should subside after three weeks.
The passing out episodes, if they are with a loss of consciousness, then further investigation is mandated: EKG, 24-hour rhythm monitor and echoDoppler of carotid (neck) arteries.
I hope I was of help. Good day.
Regards,
Dr. Meriton
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