Shortness of Breath Flashcards
What are the three categories of why someone might be breatheless?
Not enough oxygen reaching the lungs
Not enough reaching the blood
Not enough reaching the rest of the body
What are the cardiac causes of breathlessness?
Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy
Constrictive Pericarditis
Myocarditis
Define heart failure
The failure of the heart to maintain CO to meet body’s demands
How can HF be classified?
Acute or Chronic
Left or Right or Both
High or Low output state
What is HF where both sides of the heart are effect known as?
Congestive HF
What is the natural history of Congestive HF?
LH to start
Pressure backs up into the pulmonary system
Backs up into RH
What is low output state HF?
Heart fails to pump un response to normal exertion
Low CO
What is high output state HF?
CO is normal but higher metabolic needs
e.g. pregnancy, anaemia and hyperthyroidism
What are the causes of LHF?
Valvular
Muscular
Systme
What are the valvular causes of LHF?
Aortic stenosis
Aortic regurg
Mitral regurg
What are the muscular causes of LHF?
IHD
Cardiomypopathy
Myocarditis
Arrythmias
What are the systemic causes of LHF?
HTN
Amyloidosis
Drugs e.g. cocaine, chemo
What are the causes of RHF?
Lungs
Valvular
What are the lung related causes of RHF?
Pulmonary HTN
PE
Chronic lung ddisease
What are the valvular causes of RHF?
Tricuspid regurg
Pulmonary valve disease
High output heart failure causes?
NAP MEALS
Which vein does the LHS of the heart receive blood from?
Pulmonary veins
What causes symptoms in LHF?
Fluid accumulates in lungs –> respiratory systen
What causes symptoms in RHF?
Fluid accumulates in the peripheries –> swelling signs
What are the symptoms of LHF?
Dyspnoea
Nocturnal cough (pink, frothy sputum)
Fatigue
What types of dyspnoea can be present in LHF?
Paroxysmal nocutrnal
Exertional
Orthopnoea
What cardiac signs are present in HF?
High HR High RR Irregulary irregular pulse Pulsus alternans Dispaced apex beath S3 Gallop S4 in severe HF Murmur (AS, MR, AR)
Why do we get signs in LHF?
Consequence of HF
Because of the underlying cause of the HF
What are some signs of RHF?
Face swelling
Raised JVP
Weight gain
Ascites
What investigations should be done for HF?
ECg
FBC, U&Es, LFTs, TFTs, BNP
CXR, TTE
Why do a CXR for HF?
Rule out MI