Breathlessness
GENERAL CAUSES
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Lung disease
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Heart diseases
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Anemia
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Obesity( increased work of breathing/ Restriction of chest wall)
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Thyrotoxicosis
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Anxiety states
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CARDIAC AND LUNG CAUSES
LUNG DISEASES
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History suggestive of Lung problems
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Slower development of disease
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Present at Rest
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Productive cough is common
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Aggravated by Lung infections
CARDIAC DISEASE
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History of Hypertension, cardiac diseases
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Rapid development
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Worse on exertion
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Un productive cough generally
COMMON PULMONARY CAUSES OF BREATHLESSNESS
OBSTRUCTIVE CAUSES
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Asthma
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Chronic Bronchitis
RESTRICTIVE CAUSES
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Fibrosis
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Collapse of lung
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Pleural Effusion
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Pneumothorax
NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES
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Polio myelitis
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Infective Polyneuritis
DIAGNOSIS BASED ON TIME OF ONSET
ACUTE
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Pneumothorax
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Pulmonary collapse
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Pleural effusion
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Pulmonary embolus
PAROXYSMAL
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Bronchial Asthma
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Recurrent pulmonary emboli
OVER FEW MONTHS
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Tuberculosis
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Carcinoma
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Pleural Effusion
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Infiltrations
OVER MANY MONTHS(CHRONIC)
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Pulmonary fibrosis
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Chronic bronchitis