Shortness of breath
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