DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Shortness of breath

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: if sudden consider adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, lung collapse. If gradual onset, consider chronic diseases such as congestive cardiac failure, emphysema and fibrosis.

Why: e.g. exercise (see Shortness_of_breath_from_exercise), laying flat in bed.

Why: e.g. heavy periods with clots, vomiting blood, bloody stools, rectal bleeding - may suggest anemia as the cause for shortness of breath.

Why: previous respiratory illness (e.g. pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis); previous heart problems (heart disease, heart attack, heart valve disease); HIV infection ( at high risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia); previous high blood pressure; deep venous thrombosis; Rheumatic fever.

Why: many different medications can produce lung problems and resultant shortness of breath e.g. pulmonary embolism from oral contraceptive pill; fibrotic lung diseases from cytotoxic agents such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and bleomycin; bronchospasm from beta-blockers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Why: number of packets per day and number of years you have smoked. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Passive smoking exposure is also regarded as a significant risk.

Why: cocaine, amphetamines or injected narcotic drugs can cause shortness of breath.

Why: The drinking of large amounts of alcohol in binges can sometimes result in aspiration pneumonia and alcoholics are also prone to develop pneumococcal or Klebsiella pneumonia.

Why: e.g. exposure to dusts in mining industries and factories such as asbestos, coal, silica, iron oxide, tin oxide, cotton, beryllium, titanium oxide, silver, nitrogen dioxide, anhydrides; exposure to animals (e.g. Q fever or psittacosis); exposure to moldy hay, humidifiers or air conditioners may result in allergic alveolitis.

Why: asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, alpha-1-anti-typsin deficiency, tuberculosis, heart attacks.

Why: may be due to lung or heart disease.

Why: color and quantity? - e.g. large volume pus-like suggests bronchiectasis or pneumonia; foul smelling dark colored suggests lung abscess; pink frothy secretions may be due to left ventricular heart failure; blood in sputum can be a serious sign of lung disease and must always be investigated.

Why: may suggest asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, airways obstruction (by a foreign body or tumor) or left ventricular heart failure.

Why: may be due to lung or heart disease.

Why: e.g. fever at night may suggest tuberculosis, pneumonia or mesothelioma ( tumor of lung lining due to asbestos exposure).

Why: suggests left ventricular heart failure.

Why: suggests left ventricular failure.

Why: indicates obstruction of the larynx, trachea or large airways by a foreign body, a tumor or infection (such as epiglottitis).

Why: may suggest heart failure.

Why: may indicate that heart arrhythmia may be the cause of breath problems.

Why: suggests pneumonia.

Why: need to rule out pulmonary embolism.