Must Know Words of COPD/Asthma – Today is ‘Dyspnea’

 While having to battle life threatening diseases like COPD and Asthma we always need to be prepared and that preparation includes many, many items of information to help our battles be successful.

Those of us with Wheezingaway.com, COPD Travels and CrossDove Writer continually and dutifully work toward helping raise awareness among others about these two diseases of COPD and Asthma because “without breath we are without life itself”.

Those with COPD and/or Asthma have the duty to learn and know the language of these dreadful lung diseases.

With that idea we discuss some of what we call ‘must know words’ of life with COPD/Asthma – and today we talk the word ‘Dyspnea’.

‘Dyspnea’ as defined by ‘The American Thoracic Society’ is “a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that can vary in intensity”.  Other definitions would be “difficulty in breathing”, “disordered or inadequate breathing”, “uncomfortable awareness of breathing” and “the experience of breathlessness, either acute or chronic”.

‘Dyspnea’ is evaluated by assessing the intensity of the distinct sensations in an individual’s breathing, the degree of distress involved and its burden/impact on an individual’s daily living.  Some of the distinct sensations would include air hunger (the feeling of not having enough oxygen) and chest tightness.

Many studies have concluded that in 85% of the cases where an individual has ‘Dyspnea’ it will be caused by either asthma, pneumonia, acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  In a few cases ‘Dyspnea’ can be caused by psychogenic reasons such as panic and anxiety disorders.

Any treatments for ‘Dyspnea’ would depend on the underlying cause.

Note to PONDER is the initial approach to evaluating ‘Dyspnea’ begins by assessment of the airway, breathing, and circulation followed by a medical history and physical examination.

In your own individual battle with COPD and/or asthma, be sure to learn and understand the words of importance in understanding what is going on within these battles – today that word of importance is ‘Dyspnea’.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

Remember always that without breathing a person is without life itself.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2015, CrossDove Writer)

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(Information gathered from various books and internet sources discussing COPD, Asthma and other lung diseases)