Case 7- COPD

Question 1

What are the 4 causes of breathlessness?

Answer 1

Lung conditions
Heart conditions
Being unfit
Anxiety

Question 2

How do lung conditions cause breathlessness?

Answer 2

Airway becomes narrow, inflamed or fills with phlegm

Question 3

What are some conditions that cause chronic breathlessness?

Answer 3

COPD, asthma, ILD, asbestosis, lung cancer

Question 4

What are some conditions that cause short term breathlessness?

Answer 4

COPD/asthma flare up, pulmonary embolism, lung infection, pneumothorax, fluid in the lungs

Question 5

What heart condition causes long term breathlessness?

Answer 5

Heart failure (rhythmn, valves, muscles)

Question 6

What condition causes pain to be worse at night or when lying down?

Answer 6

Lungs filled with fluid

Question 7

Why does being unfit make it harder to breath?

Answer 7

Makes muscles weaker so they need to work harder (especially when underweight)
Being overweight restricts how much your chest can move

Question 8

What scale is used to diagnose breathlessness?

Answer 8

MRC breathlessness scale

Question 9

Describe the stages of the MRC breathlessness scale and what they mean?

Answer 9

1- breathless after strenuous exercise

2-