CSI 7 Flashcards
What are the 4 main causes of breathlessness?
- lung condition
- heart condition
- anxiety
- being unfit
If you get breathless everyday you may be diagnosed with one of these causes
In what ways can lung conditions lead to breathlessness?
- cause the airways to become inflamed and narrowed
- fill the airways with phlegm=harder for air to ove in and out of the lungs
- make lung stiff and less elastic so its harder for them to expand and fill with air
Which Lung conditions cause long term (chronic) breathlessness?
- Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease(COPD)
- asthma
- interstitial lung disease (ILD), including pulmonary fibrosis
- bronchiectasis
- industrial or occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis, which is caused by being exposed to asbestos
- lung cancer
What lung conditions cause short term (Acute) breathlessness?
- a flare-up of asthma or COPD
- a pulmonary embolism or blood clot on the lung
- a lung infection such as pneumonia or tuberculosis
- a pneumothorax or collapsed lung
- a build-up of fluid in your lungs or the lining of your lungs – this might be because your heart is failing to pump efficiently or may be because of liver disease, cancer or infection
What can lead to heart failure?
problems in rhythm, valves, or cardiac muscles
Why would heart failure cause breathlessness?
- because the heart is not able to increase its pumping strength in response to exercise
- or because the lungs become congested and filled with fluid
When is breathlessness due to heart failure the worst?
at night or when asleep because lying down can make it worse
What heart conditions can cause acute breathlessness?
- heart attack
- abnormal heart rhythm(miss or beat or palpitations)
Why would anxiety lead to breathlessness?
-anxious due to stress=body prepares for action=breath faster and tense muscles
What are the reasons for anxiety?
-general stress
-PHYSICAL HEALTH IS POOR- you could get anxious if you fell like you’re not in control of your condition
-SYMPTOMS-of a condition might make you fell anxious
-
What symptoms are similar to anxiety?
- Breathlessness
- tightness in chest
- getting tired easily
What happens during a panic attack?
- body normal response is exaggerated and you get a rapid build up of physical responses
- As your body tries to take in more oxygen breathing quickens and body releases hormones so your heart beats faster and your muscles tense
What symptoms do you experience during a panic attack?
- have a pounding heart
- feel faint
- sweat
- feel sick
- have shaky limbs
- feel you’re not connected to your body
- feel like you cant breathe
Why would you experience breathlessness if you are unfit?
Muscles get weaker=need more oxygen to work=more breathless you feel
Why would being an unhealthy weight make you fell breathless?
UNDERWEIGHT- breathing muscles are weaker
OVERWEIGHT:
- more effort to breathe and move around
- more weight around the abdomen restricts how much your lungs can move
What is obesity hypoventilation syndrome?
- People who are severely overweight have it
- when poor breathing leads to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels in their blood
What are other causes of long term breathlessness?
- smoking
- conditions that affect how your muscles work, such as muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis or motor neurone disease
- postural conditions that alter the shape of your spine, and affect how your ribs and how your lungs expand. For example scoliosis and kyphosis
- anaemia, when a lack of iron in the body leads to few red blood cells
- kidney disease
- thyroid disease
Why can early diagnosis of breathlessness be beneficial?
-you may feel less anxious and therefore less breathless if you have a diagnosis
What will happen when you go see your doctor about your breathlessness?
They’ll show you an MRC (Medical Research Council) breathlessness scale to help describe how breathless you get
What is MRC breathlessness scale based on?
- Does not consider how you think or feel about getting out of breath
- It shows what your breathlessness stops you doing
Describe the Grades on the MRC breathlessness scale?
1-Not troubled by breathlessness except on strenuous exercise
2- Short of breath when hurrying on the level or walking up a slight hill
3- Walks slower than most people on the level, stops after a mile or so, or stops after 15 minutes walking at own pace
4- Stops for breath after walking about 100 yards or after a few minutes on level ground
5-Too breathless to leave the house, or breathless when undressing
What should you tell your doctor when going in for an appointment about breathlessness?
▶︎what you used to be able to do that you can’t do any more
▶︎what people of your age around you do that you think you should be able to do
▶︎what your personal goals are for your day-to-day activity
If you have a phone or camera with you how could this help you at your doctors appointment?
record the sort of activities that make you out of breath so you can show your doctor what it looks/sounds like
What questions will the doctor ask?
▶︎How long have you been feeling breathless and how quickly did it come on?
▶︎Does it come and go or is it there all the time?
▶︎Is there any pattern to your breathlessness?
▶︎Does it start or get worse at any particular time of day?
▶︎Does it come on or get worse when you lie flat?
▶︎Does anything bring it on? For example, pollen, pets or medication?
▶︎Do you smoke?
▶︎Do you also have a cough, or bring up phlegm?
▶︎Do you get chest pain, palpitations or ankle swelling?
▶︎How active are you usually?
▶︎What’s your job or occupation?
▶︎Is your breathlessness related to certain times at work?
▶︎Do you have a history of heart, lung or thyroid disease or of anaemia?
▶︎Have you made any changes in your life because of your shortness of breath?
▶︎Do you feel worried or frightened, depressed or hopeless?
▶︎What have you done to help you cope with the way you’re feeling?