What Causes Shortness Of Breath When Suffering From Congestive Heart Failure?

Posted on Sun, 6 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 6 Apr 2014 Answered on

Sat, 3 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother has congestive heart failure. Lately she has been experiencing "spells" periodically of feeling very hot wanting to be fanned and some shortness of breath and seems to panic. It doesn't last long and happens several times a day.. I'm wondering if she is not having a medication reaction.

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: possible, but unlikely. Dr for proper review Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for the query, It is possible that this could be a medication reaction, however, a few things need to be put in context before associating these symptoms to medication. It is important to note if a new drug has been introduced into here treatment regimen, or any recent increases in the dosages have been made lately. If none of these have happened lately, it might be very unlikely that this could be a drug reaction. Her medical history and her age at some point could explain some of these spells. This could be a natural history of aggravation of the congestive heart failure or kidney failure. All of these could have repercussions at the level of the lungs through fluid accumulation therein and could explain the respiratory symptoms. Blood supply is a function of proper brain function. Aggravating of the heart status could there explain some of the neurologic findings she is explaining. An in depth investigation could be required to check for what is called paraneoplasic symptoms that could explain these heat spells and flushes. In case no new drug has been introduced, or any recent change in medication dosage, it might be unlikely that a drug reaction should explain this. Reactions to drugs under these circumstances are usually immediate and very dramatic, which of course is not the case here. A proper review by her doctor is need. Kind regards. Dr Bain

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (5 days later)

Could you explain what you mean by checking for paraneoplastic symptoms that could relate to the heat flashes? Don't those relate to cancer? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: For sure, reevaluuation required Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for the query, You are right. Some cancers, especially those small in size (non fulminant) tumors generally manifest themselves in the form of heat intolerance, alternations between a feeling of feeling hot and feeling cold and at times heat flashes. Thyroid disease at times could also present as such. My interest was that she gets a proper clinical review from your family care doctor. A complete blood count, blood electrolytes and some ultrasound exams of specific organs or body regions could be informative. Diagnosing this earlier could avoid some complications that could arise. This is not the most prominent possibility from the way you present your mum, however, in case symptoms persist or aggravate, it shall be worth checking out for a possibility of a paraneoplasic or hidden cancer /tumor . Kind regards. DR Bain

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj