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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Shortness Of Breath While Having COPD And Congestive Heart Failure?

I have copd and conjestive heart failure. Am short of breath often. I sleep a lot during the day. My Dr s do not say anything about this. when I walk to my bed and lay down I am very short of breath . After a while I start breathing normally. One Dr. says its the copd other Dr. says its my heart. What do you think ? Thanks Marilyn at YYYY@YYYY
Tue, 2 May 2017
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,
Thank you for your query.

Both COPD and CHF (congestive heart failure) contribute to the breathlessness. When there is stress on the heart like a physical activity or change in body position, the lungs usually helps in supplementing that additional stress.

In COPD the lungs apply further stress on the heart and worsens the congestion by increased pressures. One depends on the other and these two diseases together worsens your symptoms.

I suggest that you make positional changes slowly and gradually.
Walk to the bed, sit slowly, stay in that position for a couple of minutes and then lay down on your left side gradually for 2 minutes and so on. Any change while lying down should be done gradually too.

Medications for these conditions can alter the way your body handles its circulation, hence the breathlessness precedes the normal feel..

Please go for regular check ups/follow ups and medications have side effects too which can worsen your symptoms.

Hope I've answered your query. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health
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What Causes Shortness Of Breath While Having COPD And Congestive Heart Failure?

Hello, Thank you for your query. Both COPD and CHF (congestive heart failure) contribute to the breathlessness. When there is stress on the heart like a physical activity or change in body position, the lungs usually helps in supplementing that additional stress. In COPD the lungs apply further stress on the heart and worsens the congestion by increased pressures. One depends on the other and these two diseases together worsens your symptoms. I suggest that you make positional changes slowly and gradually. Walk to the bed, sit slowly, stay in that position for a couple of minutes and then lay down on your left side gradually for 2 minutes and so on. Any change while lying down should be done gradually too. Medications for these conditions can alter the way your body handles its circulation, hence the breathlessness precedes the normal feel.. Please go for regular check ups/follow ups and medications have side effects too which can worsen your symptoms. Hope I ve answered your query. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Wish you good health