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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Fatigue And Dizziness While Suffering From Respiratory Tract Infection?

36 yr old male, goes to ER with fatigue and light - headedness, Patient had upper respiratory infection last week, since he has low energy level, shortness of breath on mild exertion. Other wise medical history is uneventful. Non smoker, BP 80/60, T 98.6, P 120 reg, but pulse becomes undectable to palpation during inspiration. Lungs are clear, but jugular veins are distended. What is likely diagnosis Acute viral mycarditis, septic shock, acute myocardial infarction, constrictive pericarditis, tension pneumothorox, cardiac tamponade
Tue, 27 Nov 2018
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

Low blood pressure with a high pulse rate and shortness of breath may be caused by various serious disorders including some of those you've mentioned. The distended neck veins may mean either impaired blood flow from the central veins into the heart chambers or respiratory distress. Clinical examination is usually suggestive of the cause. If auscultation of the lungs is normal then a cardiovascular cause is more likely. Tension pneumothorax should have resulted in diminished breath sounds and tympanic sounds in percussion. Septic shock is not normally supposed to cause neck vein distention. Myocarditis usually causes chest pain. Pericarditis may be causing pain but not always.

So in conclusion, he needs urgent medical assessment to clarify the cause. Oxygen saturation or arterial blood gases and a chest X-ray would help a lot in this regard.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis,
Internal Medicine Specialist
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What Causes Fatigue And Dizziness While Suffering From Respiratory Tract Infection?

Hello, Low blood pressure with a high pulse rate and shortness of breath may be caused by various serious disorders including some of those you ve mentioned. The distended neck veins may mean either impaired blood flow from the central veins into the heart chambers or respiratory distress. Clinical examination is usually suggestive of the cause. If auscultation of the lungs is normal then a cardiovascular cause is more likely. Tension pneumothorax should have resulted in diminished breath sounds and tympanic sounds in percussion. Septic shock is not normally supposed to cause neck vein distention. Myocarditis usually causes chest pain. Pericarditis may be causing pain but not always. So in conclusion, he needs urgent medical assessment to clarify the cause. Oxygen saturation or arterial blood gases and a chest X-ray would help a lot in this regard. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis, Internal Medicine Specialist