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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Breathing Trouble Be Due To Heart Problem Or COPD?

My Dad is 87 years old with right sided heart failure COPD stage three and kidney disease. When he walks ( which is very slow) with a walker he labors to breath. They did an oxygen test read on him and came to a conclusion it is the heart that is the problem. How does the heart cause you to breath hard. He tires out quickly and they told me not to have him you his oxygen concentrator unless his oxygen drops down under 89. My Dad takes breathing treatments during the day and night also an inhaler once a day. I tried to explain to my Dad that they say it isn t his copd that is the major issue for trouble getting air but he and I are still confused. Thanks for your time and inform.
Tue, 7 Apr 2015
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Shortness of breathing could be caused by pulmonary, as well as heart problems. Your dad suffers from COPD for a long time, hence some irreversible progressive changes has occurred on the right side of his heart. A right heart failure (also called cor pulmonale) may have developed; and this aggravates further his clinical conditions. At that stage shortness of breathing is a component of cardio-pulmonary insufficiency. So his chronic pulmonary and heart problem must be considered together in treating the disorder. it is true that excessive oxygen could not help, and a thorough comprehensive strategy is necessary taking in consideration, CPAP ventilation suport, as well as drugs option.
Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
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Could Breathing Trouble Be Due To Heart Problem Or COPD?

Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Shortness of breathing could be caused by pulmonary, as well as heart problems. Your dad suffers from COPD for a long time, hence some irreversible progressive changes has occurred on the right side of his heart. A right heart failure (also called cor pulmonale) may have developed; and this aggravates further his clinical conditions. At that stage shortness of breathing is a component of cardio-pulmonary insufficiency. So his chronic pulmonary and heart problem must be considered together in treating the disorder. it is true that excessive oxygen could not help, and a thorough comprehensive strategy is necessary taking in consideration, CPAP ventilation suport, as well as drugs option. Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri