Dyspnea
Dyspnea means breathlessness or difficulty in breathing.
Some people experience dyspnea during physical exertion like running or exercising and this is normal.
Dyspnea while sitting, walking, or in light exertion is not normal and it can occur due to pathological conditions.
Causes: there are certain conditions that can cause dyspnea.
1. Lung disorders like :
• Pneumonia.
• Asthma.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Chronic or acute bronchitis.
• Bronchiectasis.
• Emphysema.
• Obstruction of the trachea or upper airways.
• Lung cancer or tumors.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Pneumothorax.
• Injury to the chest due to fall or fractured ribs.
• Tuberculosis.
• Respiratory acidosis.
• Pulmonary fibrosis.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• pleurisy.
2. Cardiac disorders:
• Pericarditis.
• Cardiac arrest, sudden pain in the chest along with dyspnea.
• Atrial or ventricular fibrillation.
• Supraventricular tachycardia.
• Congestive heart failure.
• cardiomyopathy.
3. Gastrointestinal or hepatic disorders :
• Acute liver failure.
• Ascites that can cause pleural effusion or sleep apnea.
4. Other conditions like :
• Anxiety disorders.
• Panic attack.
• Depression.
• Anemia.
• Guillain barré le syndrome.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Dehydration.
• Smoking.
• Electrolyte imbalance.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Sinusitis.
• Nasal polyp.
• Hypoglycemia.
Dyspnoea Symptoms:
Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing can be accompanied by:
• Suffocative feeling.
• Tightness and congestion of the chest.
• Wheezing.
• Coughing.
• Haemoptysis.
• Tachycardia.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Labored breathing.
• Pain in the chest during inspiration.
• Swollen feet and ankles.
• Nausea.
• Loss of consciousness.
Complications:
• Dyspnea can cause hypoxia i.e. lower concentration of oxygen in blood flow that results in unconsciousness.
• Cardiac arrest.
• Brain damage due to lack of oxygen in the brain.
Diagnosis:
1. Blood test: to see infections or inflammation or any disease.
2. Pulmonary function tests like spirometry to see the functioning of lungs.
3. Chest-ray to rule out abnormalities in lungs and in the heart.
4. MRI or CT scan.
5. Echocardiogram: to rule out the functioning of the heart.
Management:
• If dyspnea occurs suddenly, rush to the doctors immediately.
• Sit in the open air for a while.
• Maintain body weight.
• Avoid smoking.
• Avoid allergen or pollutants that can cause dyspnea.
Dyspnoea Homeopathy medicine:
• Aspidosperma: aspidosperma has the main action on the lungs. It removes obstruction in the oxidation of the blood by stimulating respiratory function. It increases oxidation. It works well on pulmonary stenosis. It resolves the thrombosis of the pulmonary artery. Breathlessness during exertion with cardiac asthma is marked in aspidosperma.
• Vanadium: Vanadium is well indicated for dyspnea that occurs due to a low level of hemoglobin. It increases hemoglobin and combines its oxygen and destroys toxins.
It also works well in tuberculosis.
• Spongia: spongia is well indicated for dyspnea due to an asthmatic attack. Respiration is short and difficult. Feeling as if something has stuck in the larynx. It cures chronic cough along with heart diseases. Suffocation with profuse expectoration while lying down.
Tachycardia with dyspnea. Suffocation at midnight with a red hot flushed face frightened of death.
