History Taking and Management of a Patient Presenting with Shortness of Breath

Areas to focus on: causes can be from lung diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, chronic pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pneumonia), cardiac diseases (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular dysfunction, arrhythmias, pericarditis), or other diseases: (metabolic conditions (acidosis), neuromuscular disease, otorhinolaryngologic disorders, functional (anxiety, panic disorder, hyperventilation).