The Causes of Dyspnea
Shortness of breath, or Dyspnea, can be a symptom of many illnesses. Because shortness of breath is a subjective experience, it can be very difficult to quantify and measure. Due to this issue, medical professionals often use a ten-point scale to determine how much of a problem the shortness of breath has become. It is also useful to know how the symptom has manifested itself, whether it came on suddenly or has gradually been increasing as well as considering what makes the shortness of breath worse. This brief essay will examine the three major categories of causes of this phenomenon in the context of recent research into the illness.
Due to the subjective experience of dyspnea, it is often hard to detect. The most common sufferers of dyspnea are lung cancer patients due to the constriction of the lungs. Other common leading causes include people with a pneumonia infection, asthma, chronic lung issues, pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and its lining), a blood clot, damage from radiation or chemotherapy treatment, as well as a collapse of the lung.
There is a second category of people who suffer from dyspnea. These are people who have had long term illness or disease as well as people who have neuromuscular diseases such as ALS.
Thirdly, people who are having issues with dyspnea have a history of abnormal processes in the body, such as anemia or a failing heart which cause the lungs to work harder and in turn makes it hard to breath. Accordingly, people with high levels of anxiety and panic are more likely to suffer from dyspnea, as are people who have a history of hyperventilating.
Works Cited
Gallagher, Romayne. (2007). Dyspnea: What Causes It? RedOrbit. Retrieved January 28, 2009, from http://health.redorbit.com/TextItem.aspx?id=1565