Heart Can Affect Breathing
The heart and lungs work together to keep a person alive. The heart pumps blood, which has been oxygenated by the lungs, to the rest of the body. The heart and lungs also need an oxygen-rich blood supply to function properly. Breathing problems are often associated with heart disease because of this close relationship between the heart and the lungs.Several heart problems are related to breathing, according to MedlinePlus. 1. Arrest If the lungs stop functioning, it is called respiratory arrest, and the heart eventually stops too. Conversely, if the heart stops, it is called cardiac arrest, and the lungs also cease functioning. There are several causes of respiratory arrest, such as apnea, suffocation or lung disease. 2. CHF Congestive heart failure, or CHF, can affect breathing and shortness of breath is a major symptom of CHF. CHF is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood to the other organs, according to the American Heart Association. The patient b