can pneumonia cause a heart attack

[deadbrother]

My brother who was 51 years old, just died of cardiomegaly (500 grams) and severe arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.  One week before he died he was diagnosed as having pneumonia and was given cough syrup, two inhalers and 5 days of a strong antibiotic.  He returned one week later to the same doctor and had a second set of x-rays taken and was told that has lungs still had not cleared up.  He told the doctor at that time that earlier that same day he was sweating alot and was dizzy and felt faint and was disoriented.  She told his that it was the cough medicine causing that reaction.  He told her that he could not sleep at all lying down and could not stop coughing!!  She told him to come back in a week for a CT scan and sent him home and told him to keep taking the cough syrup and some Vicodin to help with the cough.  He died that died.  Could his death be prevented????   Wouldn't the enlarged heart show on the x-ray???  Our dad died of a heart attack at age 52....the doctor knew this.  I am very sad and frustrated.......and need more answers.

[kenkeith]

Sorry for your loss and my condolences.  Yes, a repiratory problem can cause a weak heart to work harder and the adds stress and can be cause for cardiac arrest.

[deadbrother]

Thank you for your condolences.  I am wondering why the antibiotics didn't help. Do you think the fluid in his lungs was caused by pulmonary edema. He was actually coughing violently when he had his heart attack.

[kenkeith]

Yes, it is possible your brother could have had pulmonary edema.  I had congested (pulmonary edema) heart failure.  With that I had a severe dry cough, choking feeling, hyperventilation when reclined.  Sitting up gave relief, but my pulmonary edema was classified as mild...I wouldn't wish a severe case on anyone!  

Antibiotics is ineffective for pulmonary edema.  A strong antibiotic for pnuemonia (pneumonia) should have helped.  Sweating, dizziness, faint and disoriented can be symptoms of a heart attack.  Sometimes the X-ray image is not very clear, and it is possible misread.  My enlarged heart was seen by an x-ray.