Dyspnea

Although dyspnea is a relatively common problem, the pathophysiology of the uncomfortable sensation of breathing is poorly understood. Unlike those for other types of noxious stimuli, there are no specialized dyspnea receptors (although MRI studies have identified a few specific areas in the midbrain that may mediate perception of dyspnea). The experience of dyspnea likely results from a complex interaction between chemoreceptor stimulation, mechanical abnormalities in breathing, and the perception of those abnormalities by the central nervous system. Some authors have described the imbalance between neurologic stimulation and mechanical changes in the lungs and chest wall as neuromechanical uncoupling. Etiology of Dyspnea Dyspnea has many pulmonary, cardiac, and other causes ( Etiology reference Dyspnea is unpleasant or uncomfortable breathing. It is experienced and described differently by patients depending on the cause. Although dyspnea is a relatively common problem, the pathophysiology... read more ), which vary by acuity of onset (see tables Some Causes of Acute* Dyspnea , Some Causes of Subacute* Dyspnea , and Some Causes of Chronic* Dyspnea ). History of present illness should cover the duration, temporal onset (eg, abrupt, insidious), and provoking or exacerbating factors (eg, allergen exposure, cold, exertion, supine position). Severity can be determined by assessing the activity level required to cause dyspnea (eg, dyspnea at rest is more severe than dyspnea on...

Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, that occurs during exertion has several possible causes. It is not typically a cause for concern, but a person should seek medical help in certain cases. Depending on the cause, dyspnea can occur alongside other symptoms, such as a tight chest and anxiety. Read on to learn more about dyspnea on exertion, including the possible causes and when to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest Kathrin Ziegler/Getty Images It can cause someone to feel as though they are running out of air and cannot breathe fast or deep enough while exercising or exerting physical effort. Dyspnea on exertion can also cause: • uncomfortable or difficult breathing • chest tightness • a sensation of suffocating or gasping or gulping for air • anxiety and fear While some people only experience dyspnea during intense exercise or exertion, others may develop it from simple activities, such as: • • going up steps • sitting still • jogging According to a • central nervous system (CNS) • peripheral chemoreceptors • mechanoreceptors in the chest wall and respiratory tract The medulla, a structure in the brain stem at the top of the spinal cord, primarily 2) levels. High CO 2 levels make the blood more acidic. This lower pH causes the medulla to trigger hyperventilation, which is a rapid increase in breathing where the body exhales more air than it inhales. This action helps the body regain balance by reducing excess CO 2. On the other hand, when CO 2 levels are too low, the medulla r...

Digestive system The major organs in your digestive system are the liver, stomach, gallbladder, colon and small intestine. Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion describes certain symptoms, such as abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating, rather than a specific disease. Indigestion can also be a symptom of various digestive diseases. Symptoms If you have indigestion, you may have: • Early fullness during a meal. You haven't eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating. • Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. The feeling of fullness lasts longer than it should. • Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton. • Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton. • Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness in your upper abdomen. • Nausea. You feel as if you want to vomit. Less frequent signs and symptoms include vomiting and belching. Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating. When to see a doctor Mild indigestion is usually nothing to worry about. Consult your doctor if discomfo...

What Is Dyspnea? When you have shortness of breath, you can’t catch your breath or get enough air in your lungs. Your doctor might call it dyspnea. It can be a warning sign of a health problem that needs treatment right away. If you're a healthy adult, you breathe in and out up to 20 times a minute. That's nearly 30,000 breaths a day. A hard workout or the common cold might throw a kink in that pattern from time to time, but you should almost never feel short of breath. If you have new shortness of breath, call 911. If you have another health condition that makes you more likely to get seriously ill, and you have a fever or cough, call your doctor to ask whether you might have COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. If you have sudden, severe trouble catching your breath, call 911. This is especially true if you also have nausea or chest pain. Dyspnea Symptoms When you have dyspnea, you might feel: • Out of breath • Tightness in your chest • Hungry for air (you might hear this called air hunger) • Unable to breathe deeply • Like you can’t breathe (suffocation) It can be acute (sudden dyspnea) or chronic (long-lasting dyspnea). Acute dyspnea starts within a few minutes or hours. It can happen with other symptoms like a fever, rash, or cough. Chronic dyspnea can make you feel out of breath with everyday tasks, such as walking from room to room or standing up. Sometimes, shortness of breath gets better or worse with certain body positions. For example, lying down...

Overview Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disorder that can leave people breathless, fatigued, and struggling to breathe well. If you have COPD, you may sometimes have great difficulty catching your breath after walking or exercise. You may also find that you are breathless just sitting or relaxing. The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. Dyspnea occurs in COPD because your lungs become damaged, which prevents them from working as they are designed. COPD is a group of lung disorders. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two main conditions included in this category. These conditions attack your lungs in different ways. Emphysema Emphysema destroys the walls between the air sacs in your lungs. This creates larger but fewer air sacs. The total surface area for gas exchange therefore becomes smaller. The lungs also have trouble supplying oxygen to the tissues of the body and getting rid of carbon dioxide. This damage also reduces the amount of air your lungs can hold and move. As a result, you may not have the lung capacity to do normal tasks. This will cause you to grow tired and breathless quickly. Bronchitis Bronchitis inflames and irritates the lining of your airways. Over time, chronic bronchitis causes the lining to grow thick and inflexible. When your airways can’t properly clear themselves, excess mucus will become a problem. Eventually your airways will become very rigid and clogged by mucus. This makes breathing difficult. You ...

Chronic dyspnea is shortness of breath that lasts more than one month. The perception of dyspnea varies based on behavioral and physiologic responses. Dyspnea that is greater than expected with the degree of exertion is a symptom of disease. Most cases of dyspnea result from asthma, heart failure and myocardial ischemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, or psychogenic disorders. The etiology of dyspnea is multi-factorial in about one-third of patients. The clinical presentation alone is adequate to make a diagnosis in 66 percent of patients with dyspnea. Patients' descriptions of the sensation of dyspnea may be helpful, but associated symptoms and risk factors, such as smoking, chemical exposures, and medication use, should also be considered. Examination findings (e.g., jugular venous distention, decreased breath sounds or wheezing, pleural rub, clubbing) may be helpful in making the diagnosis. Initial testing in patients with chronic dyspnea includes chest radiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, complete blood count, and basic metabolic panel. Measurement of brain natriuretic peptide levels may help exclude heart failure, and d-dimer testing may help rule out pulmonary emboli. Pulmonary function studies can be used to identify emphysema and interstitial lung diseases. Computed tomography of the chest is the most appropriate imaging study for diagnosing suspected pulmonary causes of chronic dyspnea. To diagnose pulmonary a...