aetiology of chronic breathlessness

Last reviewed 01/2018

Chronic causes include:

  • lung disease
    • COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis
    • interstitial lung disease
      • pleural effusion
      • primary or metastatic malignancy
    • cardiac disease
      • congestive heart failure
      • ischaemic heart disease
      • cardiac arrhythmias
      • pericardial disease
      • valvular heart disease
    • other causes (less common)
      • anaemia
      • thyroid disease
      • neuromuscular disorders - myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (1)

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