Dyspnoea

Question 1

What is dyspnoea?

Answer 1

Describes when a person is having abnormal trouble breathing or is very aware of their breathing.

Question 2

What are some causes of dyspnoea?

Answer 2

• HF
• COPD
• Asthma
• many more…

Question 3

What are some ways that patients may describe their dyspnoea?

Answer 3

• out of puff
• tightness in the chest
• cant get enough air in
• etc.

Question 4

What is a wheeze?

Answer 4

A wheeze is a continuous musical sound that is produced during breathing. It is caused when there is narrowing of an airway and can occur during inspiration or expiration

Question 5

What is wheezing usually associated with?

Answer 5

Wheezing is usually associated with diseases that primarily affect the lungs, although it can be due to other conditions such as fluid on the lungs secodary to heart failure or aspiration from gastro-eosophageal reflux. Asthma is a very common cause of episodic dyspnoea with a wheeze

Question 6

What are some of the common cardinal features that are associated with dyspnoea?

Answer 6

• Quality
• Severity
• Time Course
• Context
• A/R Factors
• Associated Features

Question 7

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to quality?

Answer 7

• heavy/shallow breathing

Question 8

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Severity?

Answer 8

• how far can you walk without being out of breath?

- is it present at rest?

Question 9

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Time course?

Answer 9

• sudden/slow onset?

- worsening with time?

Question 10

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Context?

Answer 10

• work environments?

- etc.

Question 11

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Aggravating factors?

Answer 11

• lying down –> orthopnoea

- #pillows needed to sleep

Question 12

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Relieving factors?

Answer 12

• any treatments? how effective was it?

Question 13

What are some considerations when looking at dyspnoea with regard to Associated factors/

Answer 13

• chest pain, cough, wheeze, swelling of ankles etc.