Not all wheezing is a result of asthma. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) causes wheezing too, and because it sounds similar to asthma, it may go undiagnosed.

A few weeks ago Steve got a cold. I got it next, but mine was over with in a few days. Steve’s went into his chest, and then he started coughing and wheezing. When he laid down at night, he felt like he was choking. Fluid built up around his lungs and he could hardly breathe. It sounded like pneumonia or asthma, but what Steve had was congestive heart failure that was complicated by a cold.

Steve developed labored breathing and wheezing immediately after he suffered a major ischemic stroke in 2008. No one could explain what was causing it. Some thought that the stroke affected his lungs, but whenever his lungs were checked, they sounded fine. We went to doctor after doctor and none of them could figure it out. We even went to a chiropractor and osteo-therapist, but nothing helped. Then a few months ago, his breathing became so labored that he couldn’t breathe. He was wheezing terribly and it was worse when he was lying down.

During the night Steve said, “I don’t think I’m going to make it till morning.” When I called his primary care physician, he said to bring him right to the emergency room because he thought Steve had a blood clot on his lung.

After more tests, x-rays, an ultrasound and CT scan, the ER doctor said he couldn’t find a blood clot and thought Steve had an allergy instead, and he wanted to prescribe something. I told him that was ridiculous because I knew it wasn’t an allergy.

(Note: I’ve gotten very bold in dealing with these doctors and I question everything. They don’t like it when a woman questions their judgment, but I’m not very easily intimidated any more. I am the best advocate my husband has, and I take that responsibility very seriously.)

We went home frustrated and Steve spent most of his sleeping hours sitting up because it was easier to breathe that way. The nights lying down were the worst. A week later we went to see another new doctor, and he suspected congestive heart failure and ordered an electrocardiogram (EKG), which confirmed his suspicion. Finally an answer!

Our new doctor started him on a low dose of Coreg (Carvedilol) and slowly increased it over a period of two months. That slow increase prevented Steve from developing any side effects while his body became slowly acclimated to it. The wheezing left and he could breathe much better. The doctor (our new primary care physician) also referred us to an excellent cardiologist who has taken over Steve’s heart health.

Steve easily retains fluid and takes Lasix, a diuretic, every day to help him eliminate the excess. But some days it doesn’t work and the fluid builds up, and then his blood pressure goes up. These are classic signs of congestive heart failure.

The illustration below shows the major signs and symptoms of heart failure.

For more info, see Heart Failure: What is it?

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart  and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:26