|
|
|
Dyspnea The term “dyspnea” is derived from the Greek dys, meaning “bad” or “difficult” and pneo meaning “breathing.” Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with cancer and other progressive illnesses. It is a subjective experience, in other words, dyspnea is what the patient says it is and it can vary in intensity and number of episodes. Dyspnea has been defined as an uncomfortable sensation or awareness of breathing. It usually occurs in patients with a primary tumor that has metastasized, or spread, from another organ to the lung tissue, but dyspnea can also occur in patients who do not have disease in their lungs. Dyspnea may occur at rest or with exertion (exercise or hard work). Patients may describe the feeling of dyspnea as shortness of breath, a smothering feeling, a tightness in the chest, inability to get enough air or a feeling of suffocation. When it occurs, the patient usually reduces their activity and/or increases their breathing to try to reduce the discomfort. |
|
||||||||||||||
