Abstract

Dyspnoea is an important and common symptom in patients with pulmonary or cardiovascular disease. It is a vital signal that we all can experience, for instance during heavy exercise, but it can also be an expression of a variety of diseases. In this educational article, we provide an answer to 10 questions on the causes of dyspnoea and the effectiveness of various diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We propose a strategy to assess dyspnoea in clinical practice. Key points are determining the severity of the problem, forming a differential diagnosis, thinking about the mechanism of dyspnoea and intervening in a timely manner. We conclude that the assessment and treatment of dyspnoea often requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Translated title of the contributionDyspnoea
Original languageDutch
JournalNederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde
Volume164
Publication statusPublished - 5 Feb 2020

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