Dyspnea, or shortness of breath: Causes and treatment

Dyspnea is shortness of breath. It's a very common symptom in a lot of illnesses and conditions. People think of COPD or interstitial lung disease or pulmonary hypertension, but it can also go along with conditions like heart failure and cancers. And really there can be so much suffering that goes along with the shortness of breath. It causes anxiety and depression, and dependence on others for help around the house and doing errands and and it just can make people feel so terrible. What amazes me about a lot of patients I meet with advanced lung disease is how accustomed many of them become to the limitations of their breathing. Some of them become very used to walking ten feet and stopping and resting. And it they at least tell me sometimes that it doesn't bother them and some people it does bother. So really it's taking a very personal, very patient-focused approach to how does it affect them and how do we help make it better?

Channel: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

Views: 1,089,308

Keywords: dyspnea, shortness of breath, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, pulmonology, pulmonologist, lung doctor, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, OSU Wexner Medical Center, OSU Medical Center, Ohio State Medical Center

Id: 2auLobkUzSQ

Length: 1min 20sec (80 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 02 2015