General Surgery Rotation

Shortness of breath can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include exercise, altitude, tight clothing, a prolonged period of bed rest, or a sedentary lifestyle

• Asthma: SOB, flare-ups, wheezing
• COPD: SOB, fatigue, dry cough
• Pneumonia: SOB, fever, coughing
• Congestive heart failure: SOB, water retention, weight gain
• Acid reflux: SOB, nausea, epigastric pain
• Pneumothorax: tachypnea, shallow bread, SOB
• Pulmonary embolism: SOB, tachycardia, tachypnea, chest pain
• Foreign body aspiration: SOM, inspiratory stridor (if high in the airway), wheezing and decreased breath sounds in if low in airway
• Interstitial lung disease: SOB, tachypnea, weight loss, chronic cough, fatigue
• Obesity: SOB in the supine position, sleep apnea, weight gain, fatigue
• Pulmonary hypertension: SOB, fatigue, edema, cough, dizziness, hypotension
• Sarcoidosis: fatigue, eye redness, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, hilar lymphadenopathy
• Tuberculosis: SOB, hemoptysis, fatigue, fever, weight loss, night sweats
• Anemia: SOB, pallor, brittle nails, tachycardia, lightheadedness, fatigue
• Cardiomyopathy: SOB, fatigue, edema, weight gain
• Pericarditis: SOB, fever, chest pain
• Epiglottitis: dysphagia, drooling, respiratory distress
• Generalized anxiety disorder: fatigue, SOB, irritability, fear, emotional distress, palpitations
• Myasthenia gravis: ptosis, weak chewing, easily fatigued, SOB, weakness in everyday activity (brushing hair)
• Fractured Rib: SOB, chest pain, trauma
• Sudden blood loss