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Approach to the Patient with Dyspnea

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Manual of Outpatient Cardiology

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Abstract

Dyspnea is a common presenting symptom of cardiovascular disease in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. Despite its prevalence, the lack of specificity and variation in language used to describe sensation of shortness of breath, it poses unique diagnostic and management challenges. Often times, understanding of the underlying mechanisms of dyspnea in parallel with a focused history and exam can lead to an initial workup and differential. It is difficult to have one all-encompassing framework for evaluation of dyspnea; however, it is useful to have a general framework from which to proceed. This chapter will cover the general mechanisms of dyspnea as well as the basic workup for possible pulmonary disease causes. The focus will be specifically on dyspnea as it directly relates to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Christopher D. Lang

  2. Department of Cardiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Imran N. Chaudhary

Authors
  1. Christopher D. Lang
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  2. Imran N. Chaudhary
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Correspondence to Christopher D. Lang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Elmwood Ave. 601, Rochester, 14642, New York, USA

    John D. Bisognano

  2. , Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, 14642, New York, USA

    Ron Beck

  3. , Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, 14642, New York, USA

    Ryan Connell

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Lang, C.D., Chaudhary, I.N. (2012). Approach to the Patient with Dyspnea. In: Bisognano, J., Beck, R., Connell, R. (eds) Manual of Outpatient Cardiology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-944-4_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-944-4_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-943-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-944-4

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