Is coughing related to heart problems?

Coughing can be related to heart problems, according to Heartfailurematters.org. Patients with heart failure may have a persistent cough or wheezing, which is a whistling sound associated with difficulty breathing similar to that found in patients with asthma.

The coughing or wheezing is due to fluid accumulation or congestion in the lungs, which also makes breathing more difficult. Like patients with pneumonia, some patients with heart failure also cough up phlegm, which is a thick, mucus-like substance. In addition, a dry cough can be a side effect of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors that are often used to treat heart problems, according to Mayo Clinic.