DYSPNEA

Course overview

DYSPNEA, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SHORTNESS OF BREATH, IS THE SUBJECTIVE SENSATION OF UNCOMFORTABLE BREATHING COMPRISED OF VARIOUS SENSATIONS OF VARYING INTENSITY. IT IS A COMMON SYMPTOM IMPACTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND MAYBE THE PRIMARY MANIFESTATION RESPIRATORY, CARDIAC, NEUROMUSCULAR, PSYCHOGENIC, SYSTEMIC ILLNESS, OR A COMBINATION OF THESE. DYSPNEA CAN BE EITHER ACUTE OR CHRONIC WITH ACUTE OCCURRING OVER HOURS TO DAYS AND CHRONIC OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN 4 TO 8 WEEKS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF DYSPNEA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.