Dyspnea History

Dyspnea History

Aka: Dyspnea History

II. History: Dyspnea Severity

  1. Exertional Dyspnea (early finding)
    1. Early finding in all Dyspnea
    2. Disproportionate Exertional Dyspnea
      1. Upper airway obstruction
      2. Exercise-Induced Asthma
      3. Severe Pulmonary Hypertension
  2. Dyspnea at rest
  3. Orthopnea (most severe, graded by number of pillows)
    1. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (CHF)
    2. Obesity
    3. Pulmonary Hypertension
    4. Diaphragmatic paralysis

III. History: Dyspnea Timing

IV. History: Dyspnea Contributing Factors

  1. Medications
    1. See Medication Causes of Dyspnea
  2. Tobacco Abuse
    1. Emphysema
    2. Chronic Bronchitis
    3. Asthma
  3. Occupational exposure to dust, Asbestos, or volatiles
    1. Interstitial Lung Disease
  4. Organic dust exposure
    1. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  5. Workplace or home multiple acute flu-like illness in humans and pets (esp. faulty heaters)
    1. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

V. History: Associated conditions

VIII. References

  1. Braithwaite in Marx (2002) Rosen Emergency Med, p. 155
  2. Morgan (1998) Am Fam Physician 57:711-6 [PubMed]

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