What is Dyspnea?
'''Dyspnea''' or '''dyspnoea''' (said ''disp-nee-ah'') is shortness of breath. Some research says that about 27% of people suffer it.{{Verify source}} [[File:UniversalChokingSign.jpg|thumb|The Universal Choking Sign to let someone know you are choking]] ==Causes== There are many different causes of dyspnea. Some types and their causes are listed below. There may be duplicates in this list. ===Pulmonary disorders=== * '''Obstructive lung diseases''' ** [[Asthma]] ** [[Bronchitis]] ** [[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD) ** [[Cystic fibrosis]] (CF) ** [[Emphysema]] ** [[larynx|Laryngeal]] [[edema]] due to [[allergies]] ** [[Hookworm disease]] *'''Restrictive lung diseases/conditions''' ** [[Sarcoidosis]] ** [[Pulmonary fibrosis]] ** [[Pneumonia|Pneumonias]] ** [[Pneumoconiosis]] (work/industrial/environment disease) ** [[Pleural effusion]] ** [[Connective tissue]] disease ** [[Neuromuscular]] problems ** [[Kyphoscoliosis]] (a thoracic cage deformity) * '''Diseases of lung parenchyma and pleura''' ** Contagious *** [[Anthrax (disease)|Anthrax]] through inhalation of ''[[Bacillus anthracis]]'' *** [[Pneumonia]] ** Non-contagious *** Fibrosing [[alveolitis]] *** [[Atelectasis]] *** [[Hypersensitivity pneumonitis]] *** [[Interstitial lung disease]] *** [[Lung cancer]] *** [[Pleural effusion]] *** [[Pneumoconiosis]] *** [[Pneumothorax]] *** Non-cardiogenic [[pulmonary edema]] or [[acute respiratory distress syndrome]] *** [[Sarcoidosis]] * '''Pulmonary vascular diseases''' ** Acute or recurrent [[Pulmonary embolism|pulmonary emboli]] ** [[Pulmonary hypertension]], primary or secondary ** Pulmonary [[veno-occlusive disease]] ** [[Superior vena cava syndrome]] ===Other causes of diminished breathing=== * '''Obstruction of the airway''' ** [[Cancer]] of the [[larynx]] or [[pharynx]] ** [[Empty nose syndrome]] ** [[Pulmonary aspiration]] ** [[Epiglottitis]] ** [[Vocal cord dysfunction]] * '''Immobilization of the [[diaphragm]]''' ** Lesion of the [[phrenic nerve]] ** [[Polycystic liver disease]] ** [[Tum