Dyspnea is a medical term for shortness of breath. You may have a feeling of “not enough air” (air hunger), gasping, chest tightness, or working hard to breath.
What’s the difference between dyspnea, shortness of breath and breathlessness?
Both the terms, shortness of breath and breathlessness are used to describe dyspnea. One breathes fast and deep, as there is a feeling of inadequate breath to fulfill the needs of the body.
Is dyspnea dangerous or life threatening?
Dyspnea is a symptom representing an inadequate supply of air and oxygen. There are certain red flags that indicate the severity of the condition, such shortness of breath while at rest, chest pain, low oxygen levels in the body, low blood pressure, fast heart beat and altered level of consciousness.
No matter what the cause is, if you experience shortness of breath at any time, this requires immediate visit to a physician or Emergency department for evaluation.
What are the causes of dyspnea?
Conditions effecting lungs directly or indirectly lead to development of dyspnea. Most common causes are lung disorders such as asthma, COPD, Fibrosis, and other related conditions. Heart disorders like heart attack, pulmonary edema (water in the lungs), abnormal heart size, infection of the heart valves or heart walls (endocarditis, pericarditis), leaking vales and other related condition. Certain neuromuscular illness which involves the respiratory muscle (muscles of the chest wall and neck) can lead to shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
How is dyspnea caused by heart?
Medical conditions that result in weakness of the heart muscle will cause reduced pumping of blood to the lungs and the body. This in turn will cause reduced oxygen levels and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This condition is called congestive heart failure or CHF. The commonest cause for CHF is heart attack and chronic hypertension. Other causes include valvular dysfunction or infection of the heart muscle and valves.
How neuromuscular disorders cause dyspnea?
Breathing requires use of the respiratory muscles. These include the diaphragm, muscles of the chest wall, neck and abdomen. Any condition that weakens the respiratory muscle can result in inadequate breathing, leading to abnormality in oxygen supply and retention of carbon dioxide in the body. The imbalance between oxygen and carbon dioxide makes the person to breathe faster and quicker resulting in dyspnea.
Can a neurological disorder like stroke cause dyspnea?
Stroke, when severe, causes impaired level of consciousness. This causes an abnormal breathing pattern that may be shallow. This, in addition to the patients inability to clear secretions due to altered consciousness may result in in low oxygen levels and dyspnea.
How is dyspnea diagnosed?
A detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination helps the physician make a differential diagnosis to determine the cause. Further investigations include chest x-ray, lung function test, CT scan of the chest with or without contrast for lung related conditions, ECG, cardiac enzymes, echocardiogram for cardiac causes , brain imagining with CT/MRI, nerve conduction studies and muscle biopsies along with certain specific blood tests for neurological illneses.
What is the treatment of dyspnea?
Treatment of dyspnea is to identify the cause and target the treatment accordingly. Supplemental oxygen is given in addition to treating the underlying illness.