Pulmonary heart disease, also known as cor pulmonale, is a medical condition that is caused by an increased pressure on the lungs due to an inadequate flow of blood. This high pressure often leads to the enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart. If left untreated, pulmonary heart disease may lead to congestive heart failure, heart attack and death.
The symptoms of cor pulmonale include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the ankles or abdomen or both, enlargement of facial veins, wet cough, palpitation, enlargement of the liver and bluish discolouration of face. The major causes of pulmonary heart disease include chronic hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, loss of lung tissue due to trauma or surgery, hypertension, altitude sickness, sickle cell anaemia, COPD and obstructive sleep apnoea.
.
Treatment options include blood thinning medications, drugs to relax the blood vessels in the lungs, nitrates to improve blood flow, phosphodiesterase inhibitors to improve heart contractility, calcium channel blockers and transplantation of lungs and heart. Patients of pulmonary heart disease should avoid smoking and dust. Moreover, they should wear a protective face mask to prevent inhalation of chemical gases and dust particles.
Patients of cor pulmonale should also use a dietary supplement that helps maintain the health of heart. Equazen Cardiozen Fish Oil is a popular brand that contains omega-3 long chain essential fatty acids particularly EPA in a natural triglyceride form. EPA is converted into prostaglandins by the body. These are hormone like substances that play an important role in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. Equazen also contains coenzyme Q 10 that helps produce energy within the cells of muscle tissue.
