Heart disease refers to conditions affecting the heart’s structure, function, or blood supply. A cough is a reflex to clear irritants from airways. While often due to infections or allergies, a persistent cough can signal an underlying heart condition. This connection, often termed a “cardiac cough,” arises when heart function is compromised.
How Heart Disease Leads to a Cough
When the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, blood can back up, especially from the lungs. This causes pressure to build in lung blood vessels, leading to fluid leakage into lung tissues and air sacs, a condition known as pulmonary edema or lung congestion. This excess fluid irritates the airways, triggering a cough reflex to clear the congestion.
Specific Heart Conditions and Their Cough Link
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a primary cardiac condition causing a cough. In CHF, reduced pumping ability leads to fluid accumulation in the lungs. This fluid buildup directly irritates the airways, prompting a cough. The severity of the cough often reflects the extent of fluid congestion within the lungs.
Mitral valve disease, particularly mitral stenosis or regurgitation, can also cause a cough. Mitral stenosis, a narrowed valve opening, causes blood to back up into the lungs, increasing pressure and fluid accumulation. Mitral regurgitation, a leaky valve, similarly allows blood to flow backward, contributing to lung congestion and irritation.
Less commonly, an enlarged left atrium can mechanically compress the main bronchus or trachea, leading to a persistent cough. This direct pressure stimulates cough receptors. This physical impingement can contribute to coughing in individuals with significant left atrial enlargement.
Recognizing a Heart-Related Cough
A cough stemming from a heart problem often presents with specific characteristics. It can be persistent and may worsen at night or when lying down, as gravity allows fluid to distribute more evenly in the lungs. This cough might be dry and hacking, or productive, yielding white, pink, or frothy sputum.
Beyond the cough, several accompanying symptoms can indicate a cardiac origin. Shortness of breath, especially with exertion (dyspnea) or when lying flat (orthopnea), is a common sign. Other signs include fatigue, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet (edema), and wheezing, which may sound similar to asthma but arises from fluid in the airways.
When to Consult a Doctor
It is advisable to seek medical attention for any persistent cough that does not resolve, especially if new or worsening. Prompt evaluation is important if the cough is accompanied by new or increased shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting.
Coughing up pink, frothy, or blood-tinged sputum is a significant warning sign that warrants immediate medical assessment. If there are existing risk factors for heart disease or other symptoms of heart problems are present, a professional medical assessment is important for proper diagnosis and management.