PLEASE, take a deep breath

Dyspnoea, a subjective experience of breathing discomfort, is a debilitating symptom which impacts quality of life in patients with pleural effusions. It consists of a number of perceptions, including a sense of work/effort, tightness in the chest and air hunger. Dyspnoea affects up to 80% of patients with malignant pleurisy [1–3], and an even higher percentage of those with heart failure-associated effusions [4]. Pleural effusions can have a large impact, not only on breathing and quality of life [5], but also on sleep [6] and exercise capacity [7].
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Respiratory clinical practice Editorials Source Type: research