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Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath
Question: I have shortness of breath, no cough, a clear chest xray. I was a smoker, however I quit many years ago. I am 20 lbs over weight, 70 yrs old.
Brief Answer:
may need to check heart and blood count
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Shortness of breath can be related to the heart, lungs or due to systemic conditions such as anemia (low red cell mass)
The x ray would have assessed the lung which means it is possible that the symptom may be related to one of the other causes.
Heart disease can present in different ways. It can present with some or all of the following: shortness of breath, chest pain , palpitations, swelling
The most common conditions causing shortness of breath are angina, heart failure and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) .
The arrhythmias would normally present with palpitations along with the shortness of breath.
Anemia , can also cause shortness of breath because reduced hemoglobin means reduced oxygen carrying ability of the blood.
To determine the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may consider the following when you return home:
(1) ECG- looking at the rate and rhythm of the heart,
(2)blood tests such as full blood count
Depending on the results of the ECG and physical examination, an echo may be needed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
may need to check heart and blood count
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Shortness of breath can be related to the heart, lungs or due to systemic conditions such as anemia (low red cell mass)
The x ray would have assessed the lung which means it is possible that the symptom may be related to one of the other causes.
Heart disease can present in different ways. It can present with some or all of the following: shortness of breath, chest pain , palpitations, swelling
The most common conditions causing shortness of breath are angina, heart failure and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) .
The arrhythmias would normally present with palpitations along with the shortness of breath.
Anemia , can also cause shortness of breath because reduced hemoglobin means reduced oxygen carrying ability of the blood.
To determine the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may consider the following when you return home:
(1) ECG- looking at the rate and rhythm of the heart,
(2)blood tests such as full blood count
Depending on the results of the ECG and physical examination, an echo may be needed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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