Chronic breathlessness: time for Cinderella to go to the ball!

Breathlessness is a peculiar issue. The normal physiological response to exertion (physical or emotional) is clearly not a "symptom", defined as a physical or mental manifestation of disease apparent to the patient (English Oxford Living Dictionary). However, breathlessness is also one of the most common, serious and distressing symptoms caused by disease(s). Perhaps these extremes explain partly why the change from "normal" to "symptom" is often unrecognised by the breathless patient, their family and friends and their healthcare professionals, particularly when this shift occurs insidiously [1]. It may also reduce the legitimacy of breathlessness as a reason to seek medical help until the symptom has become a visible and objectively measurable clinical sign of respiratory difficulty [2]. Additional barriers include misattribution of breathlessness solely to physiological deconditioning or growing older [1], or the fear of censure and stigma associated with smoking [3] or being overweight. Too often, the patient presents only when serious limitations affecting work, finances, family role and social interaction have accrued, when the breathlessness provokes an anxious emotional response that can no longer be ignored, or in crisis needing immediate medical intervention.
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Editorials Source Type: research