Dyspnoea

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

Difficult or laboured breathing, some people refer to it as shortness of breath and a feeling that you cannot breathe enough air into your lungs.

Left ventricular failure causes dyspnoea due to oedema of the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli. Which makes the lungs stiff meaning its harder to breathe air in.

Question 2

Aetiology

Answer 2

Conditions that can cause short-term dyspnoea:
– sudden heart failure
– low blood pressure
– pneumonia
– pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs)
– pneumothorax
– carbon monoxide poisoning
– anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
– stress or anxiety

Examples of chronic dyspnoea:
– chronic COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
– lung cancer
– pulmonary hypertension
– obesity
– pleural effusion
– heart disease
– asthma can cause both chronic and acute

Question 3

Clinical presentation

Answer 3

Tachypnoea (increased respiratory rate) is present

Orthopnoea (breathlessness while lying down)
– as blood is redistributed from the legs to the torso leading to an increased central and pulmonary blood volume
– may use an increased number of pillows when sleeping or lying down

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (woken from sleep fighting for breath)
– caused by same thing as orthopnoea

Cheyenne-Stokes respiration:
– hyperventilating with alternating episodes of apnoea