Dyspnea Causes
Aka: Dyspnea Causes, Causes of Dyspnea with Clear Lung Sounds
II. Causes: Categories of Dyspnea
- Oxygen Ingress problem
- High altitude
- Airway Obstruction
- Larynx or trachea (e.g. Laryngitis, Trauma)
- Bronchi (e.g. Acute Bronchitis, Asthma)
- Alveoli (e.g. Emphysema, Interstitial Lung Disease)
- External compression (e.g. Pneumothorax)
- Thoracic wall (e.g. Scoliosis)
- Oxygen Uptake problem
- Lung circulation
- Hemoglobin disorder (oxygen carrying capacity)
- Neuromuscular problem
- Miscellaneous causes
- Perceived Dyspnea (e.g. anxiety)
- Metabolic Acidosis (with compensatory Tachypnea)
III. Causes: Common in Adults
- Acute Dyspnea in Adults (Mnemonic: PPOPPA)
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary: Noxious gas inhalation, HAPE
- Cardiogenic: Congestive Heart Failure
- Obstructed Airway (Foreign body, Epiglottitis)
- Pneumothorax (Spontaneous)
- Pneumonia
- Asthma or COPD
- Chronic Dyspnea in Adults (Duration >1 month)
- Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD, Asthma)
- Restrictive Lung Disease
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Kyphoscoliosis
- Neuromuscular disease (e.g. Myasthenia Gravis)
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Pneumonia
- Anemia
- Myocardial Ischemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Upper airway conditions
- Obesity
- Psychiatric cause (e.g. Anxiety Disorder)
IV. Causes: Dyspnea with Clear Lung Sounds
- Anemia
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Pericardial Tamponade
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Observe for signs of right Heart Failure (edema, JVD)
V. Causes: Acute Dyspnea in Children
VI. Causes: Airway Causes
VII. Causes: Cardiac Causes
- Coronary Artery Disease (Myocardial Infarction)
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Myocarditis
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Asymmetric septal hypertrophy
- Valvular dysfunction (e.g. Aortic Stenosis)
- Pericarditis
- Arrhythmias (e.g. Atrial Fibrillation)
VIII. Causes: Pulmonary Causes
- Pneumothorax
- Hereditary lung disorders
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Obstructive Lung Disease
- Emphysema
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Post-Pneumonia
- Immotile cilia
- Obliterative Bronchiolitis
- Restrictive Lung Disease
- Massive Obesity
- Kyphoscoliosis
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP)
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
IX. Causes: Mixed Cardiac or pulmonary causes
- COPD with Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale
- Deconditioning
- Chronic pulmonary emboli
- Chest Trauma
X. Causes: Miscellaneous
- See Medication Causes of Dyspnea
- Metabolic Acidosis (with compensatory Tachypnea)
- Includes Aspirin Overdose (Salicylate Toxicity)
- Severe Pain
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
- Ear, nose and throat disorders (airway obstruction)
- Psychogenic Causes
XI. References
- Braithwaite in Marx (2002) Rosen’s Emergency, p. 155-62
- Degowin (1987) Diagnostic Exam, p. 281-2
- Fangman in Noble (2001) Primary Care, p. 175-8
- Friedman (1991) Problem-Oriented Diagnosis, p. 134-42
- Marini (1987) Respiratory Medicine, p. 40-41
- Stulbarg in Murray (2000) Respiratory Med, p. 541-52
- Zoorob (2003) Am Fam Physician 68(9):1803-10 [PubMed]