Copyright © 2020 pubrica. All rights reserved 1

The Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Respiratory

Disease

Dr. Nancy Agens, Head,

Technical Operations, Pubrica

sales@pubrica.com

In Brief

The relationship between respiratory and

cardiovascular diseases and the effect of

cardiovascular diseases in patients with

respiratory disease are still unclear. This

study determines the relationship between

the individual cardiovascular disease with

the chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease (COPD), asthma and interstitial

lung disease (ILD). Pulmonary disease is

independently associated with cardiac

conditions, mostly during Heart Failure

(HF), and Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD),

which significantly contributes to all-

cause mortality. Yet, patients with

pulmonary disease are likely to receive

coronary revascularization.

I. INTRODUCTION

The thoracic cavity contains the heart and

the lungs, which are intimately connected.

Though they are independent organ with

different functions, they work together to

ensure that all the cells in the body get the

oxygen to survive. In most cases,

breathing or the inhalation process is

spontaneous and are effortless, but at times

it can be very challenging. It is due to the

complications present in the respiratory

system or lungs such as infection,

inflammation, allergies, asthma, bronchitis

which can lead to difficulties in breathing

and some situations indicate breathlessness

that could be an indication that there is a

problem with the heart of improper

functioning.

II. THE EXCHANGE OF GASES

BETWEEN THE HEART AND LUNGS

The primary function of the heart is to

pump the blood around the body, and that

circulation process takes blood into the

lungs to top up the oxygen and removes

other gases presents in the blood as it

makes sure the Red Blood Cells are

oxygenated and it is an incredible process

too. The exchange of gasses in the blood is

the coordination process between the heart

and lungs, and the oxygen attaches to a

protein called haemoglobin in the RBC.

The charged or the oxygenated blood

returns to the heart where it will be

pumped back to the tissues and organs of

the body through the blood vessels and

capillaries. The body cells use the

transported oxygen and release CO2, which

as de-oxygenated blood will be moved

back to the heart through veins and further

the heart pumps it into the lungs. The CO2

passes through the thin walls of lungs and

release CO2 when you breathe out, the

whole process to start again.

III. HOW CAN THE HEART AFFECT

BREATHING

The function of the human body is a

delicate and finely balanced system, so

when some significant part of the organs

goes wrong, it can have enormous effects

in function. For instance, the heart is

damaged or diseased, and it cannot be able

to pump efficiently, and that can

significantly affect the lungs, meaning that

breathing can be impaired.

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IV. THE PULMONARY

ABNORMALITIES AND ITS

ASSOCIATION WITH CARDIAC

DISEASE

Pulmonary abnormalities are often present

in patients with respiratory disorders,

which includes neuromuscular or chest

wall disorders, Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease, sarcoidosis, idiopathic

pulmonary fibrosis, and disorders of

ventilatory control including obesity

hypoventilation syndrome and sleep apnea

syndromes. The complex nature of the

organ and the interactions between the

cardiovascular system and the lungs has

been increasingly studied, and one such

study shows that the most common cause

of pressure overload is Pulmonary Arterial

Hypertension (PAH) which leads to the

dysfunction of the right ventricle.

Pulmonary hypertension is classified as

Group III in World Health Organization

(WHO) scheme, and it is also known as

pulmonary heart disease. The development

of pulmonary heart disease is typically

related to weaker prognosis and increased

death. The association of increased cardiac

death and impaired health status is due to

the systemic manifestation of the

pulmonary disorder, especially obstructive

diseases.

V. HOW CARDIAC DISEASE AFFECTS

THE PULMONARY SYSTEM

Though systemic manifestation becoming

increasingly recognized in obstructive

disorders, cardiovascular involvement is

related explicitly because of its association

with deteriorated mortality rate and

impaired health status. The evolving

research data regarding pulmonary

vascular abnormalities in the most

common respiratory disorders, and it is

mandatory to explore the relationship

between cardiovascular death, and Chronic

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,

atherosclerosis, and systemic

inflammation. Cardiovascular disease and

respiratory disorder are frequently

Copyright © 2020 pubrica. All rights reserved 2

coexisting as the shared risk factors are

common. It has become clear that the

combination between cardiovascular

disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease is independent of the risk factors;

certainly, cardiac disease occurrence and

mortality rate is now well established

along with the relationship between the

severity of pulmonary obstruction. Further,

the relationship between asthma,

interstitial lung disease (ILD),

characterized by restrictive lung function,

with cardiovascular disease, are less well

defined.

The association between pulmonary

diseases and individual cardiovascular

diseases, which comprise a range of

different conditions with different

mechanisms and manifestations, as it is not

well characterized. Moreover, there are

extensive data to show that lung diseases,

particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease, adversely affect the prognosis of

patients with cardiac conditions, few

studies have investigated the impact of

specific cardiovascular diseases on

mortality in patients with lung diseases.

In summary, cardiovascular and

respiratory diseases are the leading causes

of premature death worldwide where half

of all deaths from cardiovascular disease

are quick and unexpected. Though

studying two major organs and its relation

involves more complexity in identifying

new procedures as research professional

develop their understanding of some of the

most common and rarer types of heart and

lung diseases the complex nature of the

cardiac and respiratory disease will also be

explored, particularly concerning the

coordination between cardiovascular

death, chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease, atherosclerosis, and systemic

inflammation.

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