Cor PulmonaleSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Cor Pulmonale
Cor pulmonale is a condition that causes the right side of the heart to fail. It can happen quickly, or more commonly, it develops over many years.
Right-sided heart failure; Pulmonary heart disease
The right side of the heart pushes used blood from the heart to the lungs where it refills with oxygen. If the right side of the heart can't do its job, the blood backs up in the veins and normal circulation to the other organs fails.
Usually, the cause of cor pulmonale is lung disease. Lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to elevated pressures in the blood vessel that connects the heart to the lungs. Blood clots in the lungs can also cause cor pulmonale.
Other medical conditions that may lead to cor pulmonale include:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Interstitial lung disease
- Severe bronchiectasis
- Pulmonary arteritis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis)
- Abnormal curvature of the spine (kyphoscoliosis)
- Obesity
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Shortness of breath or lightheadedness during activity is often the first symptom of cor pulmonale. You may also have a fast heartbeat and feel like your heart is pounding.
Over time, symptoms occur with lighter activity or even while you are at rest. Symptoms you may have are:
- Fainting spells during activity
- Chest discomfort, usually in the front of the chest
- Chest pain
- Swelling of the feet or ankles
- Symptoms of lung disorders, such as wheezing or coughing or phlegm production
- Bluish lips and fingers (cyanosis)
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms. It is important to treat medical problems that cause pulmonary hypertension, because they can lead to cor pulmonale.
Many treatment options are available. In general, the cause of your cor pulmonale will determine which treatment you receive.
If your provider prescribes medicines, you may take them by mouth (oral), receive them through a vein (intravenous or IV), or breathe them in (inhaled). You will be closely monitored during treatment to watch for side effects and to see how well the medicine works for you. Never stop taking your medicines without first talking to your provider.
Other treatments may include:
- Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots
- Medicines to manage heart failure symptoms
- Oxygen therapy at home (in most cases of cor pulmonale, oxygen is low)
- A lung or heart-lung transplant, if medicine does not work
Important tips to follow:
- Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting.
- Avoid traveling to high altitudes.
- Get a yearly flu vaccine, as well as other vaccines, such as the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine, and the COVID-19 vaccine.
- If you smoke, stop.
- Limit how much salt you eat. Your provider also may ask you to limit how much fluid you drink during the day.
- Use oxygen if your provider prescribes it.
- Women should not get pregnant.
Susanna Price practices practicing medicine in London, United Kingdom. Ms. Price is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cor Pulmonale. She is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Cardiogenic Shock, Cor Pulmonale, Heart Attack, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Brigham And Women's Hospital, Heart And Vascular Center
Aaron Waxman is a Cardiologist and an Intensive Care Medicine provider practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Waxman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cor Pulmonale. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Hypertension, Hypertension, Cor Pulmonale, Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease, and Thrombectomy. Dr. Waxman is board certified in Pulmonary Disease, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Waxman is currently accepting new patients.
Sanjiv Shah is a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Shah is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cor Pulmonale. He is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Heart Failure, Cardiac Amyloidosis, Heart Transplant, and Cardiac Ablation. Dr. Shah is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Disease (Certified). Dr. Shah is currently accepting new patients.
How well you do depends on the cause of your cor pulmonale.
As your illness gets worse, you will need to make changes to your home so that you can manage as well as possible. You will also need help around your house.
Cor pulmonale may lead to:
- Life-threatening shortness of breath
- Severe fluid buildup in your body
- Shock
- Death
Contact your provider if you have shortness of breath or chest pain.
Do not smoke. Smoking causes lung disease, which can lead to cor pulmonale.
Summary: To verify whether the transpulmonary pressure-guided mechanical ventilation strategy can reduce right ventricular involvement, especially the incidence of acute cor pulmonale (ACP), in patients with moderate to severe ARDS induced by pneumonia compared with the currently widely used right ventricular protective mechanical ventilation strategy.
Summary: Prospective, single-arm, multi-center, continued access study of the Autus Size-Adjustable Valve in pediatric patients aged 18 months to 16 years requiring surgical pulmonary valve replacement. The Autus Valve may be expanded pre-implant to match the subject's body size. Subjects will be evaluated prior to the Autus Valve implant procedure, immediately post-implantation, at hospital discharge, 30 ...
Published Date: May 04, 2026
Published By: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP, Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Hoeper MM, McLaughlin V. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 69.
Lammi MR, Mathai SC. Pulmonary hypertension: general approach. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 83.
Maron BA. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 80.