Difficult Breathing: Emergency Room Tips
Difficulty in breathing is a condition that arises when one is unable or uncomfortable to take in the oxygen required for normal metabolic activities in the body. During this moment, the person feels deprived of enough air. The condition can be due to several factors or causative agents. Nonetheless, difficulty in breathing can be an indicator of severe developing disease. FrontLine ER, therefore, recommends a quick medical response to such a condition.
In most cases, we can refer to difficulty in breathing as shortness of breath. Many people, who have experienced this condition, described it as an intense tightening of muscles in the chest cavity and a feeling of suffocation and pain.
Breathing difficulties, scientifically referred to as dyspnea, affects many people without warning or signs thus many people find themselves in emergency rooms. With this in mind, there is a need to know the probable causes of dyspnea. FrontLine ER brings to your attention the common causes of breathing difficulties.
Causes of Breathing Difficulty
Heart Disease
Any disease in the heart can have a high impact on the average intake of oxygen. The cardiovascular system is generally the centre of everything when it comes to respiration. The organ is vital in pumping blood throughout the body. This blood is similarly used to supply oxygen all over the body. Whenever the heart is unable to pump blood, oxygen supply in the body is also affected. When this occurs, the brain and other body organs run short of oxygen causing a sense of breathlessness.
Respiratory Problems
Any other problem with the respiratory tract can also bring about the difficulty in breathing. Respiratory diseases can affect lungs, esophagus or the other parts involved during respiration. Lung conditions like pneumonia, asthma or emphysema are the common causes of lung failure.
Another common respiratory disease is the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which affects the bronchus in the lungs.
Allergies
Allergies arise when the immune system reacts to something in the body. It can be a reaction to certain foods, scents, medicines, pollen or even dust. Allergies can cause asthma which can lead to difficulty in breathing.
Anxiety
Being anxious is part of life. Many people become anxious due to some reasons. However, anxiety at times comes along with difficulty in breathing.
These are but few of the causes of the condition. However, when presented at any health facility with this condition, there are tests conducted to ascertain if the situation is indeed a breathing problem.
Other notable causes are:
• Obesity
• Panic attacks
• A hiatal hernia
• Emotional distress
Which tests are therefore conducted to diagnose breathing problems? FrontLine ER has the solution for you.
In most emergency rooms, doctors perform a physical exam on patients before any other step. The physical exam involves taking a patients history as well as factoring in their family health history.
After the physical examination, the doctor orders other tests such as spirometry and meth choline challenge tests.
Spirometry, a simple breathing test, measures the amount of air a patient can pump out of their lungs and the rate at which the air is pumped out. The test helps determine if there is any form of airway obstruction in the respiratory tract.
A meth choline challenge test is, on the other hand, performed to establish if there is any instance of asthma. Performing these two tests is a significant step towards healing any breathing difficulty.
How to Treat Difficulty in Breathing
Triggers are substances that cause breathing problems. The first step towards treating difficulty in breathing is by keeping yourself away from these triggers. Prevention can be in the form of wearing a dust mask when attending to chores or any work that involves interaction with dust.
Medication is also another meaningful way of treating a breathing problem. Allergy drugs like decongestants and antihistamines also make it easier for people with allergies to breathe. The medication can be taken orally or by using nasal sprays.
Another form of medication involves taking inhaled steroids. The steroids reduce inflammation along the airways thereby making it easier for one to easily breathe since there is now minimal airway obstruction along the airways.
It is worrying that most people begin seeking medical help when the condition is worse. When detected at early stages, it is easier to treat unlike when in advanced stages. FrontLine ER, therefore, encourages people to be keen and start medication before the condition worsens off.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor for them to conduct an accurate diagnosis.
What to Expect When You Visit FrontLine ER
FrontLine ER has a team of qualified doctors who are willing to diagnose and treat any condition related to breathing. If your disease is severe, a proper medication plan is put in place to curb the state before situations get out of control.
