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This section has been reviewed and approved by the PLWC Editorial
Board, 05/05
Dyspnea, or breathlessness, is a condition
experienced by 20% to 90% of people with advanced cancer. It can also
occur in those with other conditions of the heart or lungs. Common
symptoms of dyspnea include the following:
- Uncomfortable breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Inability to get enough
air
- A feeling of smothering,
drowning, or suffocation
A person may experience dyspnea
even though the actual levels of oxygen are within a normal range. People
do not die or suffocate from dyspnea.
Causes
Dyspnea can have many causes, from the tumor
itself or from other conditions related to cancer. Many of these causes
are treatable. Some common causes of dyspnea
include the following:
- Airway obstruction by a
tumor or other cause
- Anxiety
- Bronchospasm (narrowing airways)
- Hypoxemia (shortage of
oxygen in blood)
- Gathering of fluid
in the areas around the heart or lungs
- Pneumonia
- Radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of lungs after
radiation treatment)
- Anemia (low red
blood cell count)
- Stress
Diagnosis
To diagnose dyspnea, the doctor will review
your medical history and ask you to report your symptoms and any
activities or other medical conditions that make the symptoms worse. The
doctor may also ask you to rate your symptoms on a scale.
Treatment
Treatment of dyspnea begins with treating the
underlying cause, such as the tumor. The following may also help to
relieve the symptoms of dyspnea:
- Receiving extra oxygen
(sitting near cool air in front of a fan may be just as effective as
extra oxygen)
- Taking opioid medications
- Taking anti-anxiety
drugs can help relieve symptoms if you also have anxiety or pain,
but are not helpful for treating dyspnea
alone.
- Breathing cleaner,
cooler air. Lowering the temperature in a room, opening a window,
using a humidifier, and getting rid of smoke and pet dander may make
breathing easier.
- Being in an open space,
including opening windows, seeing a view of the outside, and being
in an uncrowded room may help breathing
seem easier.
- Keeping your head
lifted. If you are in bed, raise your head up on pillows so you are
close to sitting up.
- Practicing distraction
and relaxation techniques
More Information
PLWC: Managing Side Effects
Cancersymptoms.org: Dyspnea
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