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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Dyspnea and Jugular vein distention

Introduction


Abbreviations: ABG (arterial blood gas); ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme); BMI (body mass index); CBC (complete blood count); CSF (cerebrospinal fluid); CXR (chest X-ray); ECG (electrocardiogram); FEF (forced expiratory flow rate); FEV1 (forced expiratory volume); FVC (forced vital capacity); JVD (jugular vein distention); MCV (mean corpuscular volume); Plt (platelet); RV (residual volume); SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone); TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone); Vt (tidal volume); WBC (white blood cell);

Organ system Diseases Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Other features
Symptoms Physical exam
Loss of consciousness Agitation Weight loss Fever Chest pain Cough Cyanosis Clubbing JVD Peripheral edema Auscultation CBC ABG Imaging Spirometry Gold standard
Acute Dyspnea Respiratory system Chest and Pleura,

Lower airway

COPD exacerbation[1] – + – + + + + +/- +/- +/- Wheeze, Rhonchi, and Crackles ↑WBC, ↑RBC Respiratory alkalosis Hyperexpansion ↓ FEV1/FVC Clinical assessment Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB)
Pneumothorax[2] – – – – + – – – +/- – Diminished breath sounds Normal ↓O2, ↑CO2 Radiolucency without lung marking ↓Vt CXR and Chest CT scan Tracheal deviation
Cardiovascular system Acute heart failure[3] +/- + – – +/- + + – + + S3 Normal Respiratory alkalosis ↑ Cardiothoracic ratio ↓Vt B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) Excessive sweating, high blood pressure
Pericardial tamponade[4] +/- – – – + – – – + – Muffled heart sounds Normal Normal Water bottle appearance enlarged heart Normal Echocardiography Fluid accumulation in pericardium
Pulmonary edema[5] +/- + – + + + + + + + Basal crackle Normal Respiratory alkalosis Bat wing pattern, air bronchograms ↓Vt, ↑RV Cardiac Catheterization Tachypnea
Chronic Dyspnea Respiratory system Chest and Pleura,

Lower airway

COPD[1] – – +/- – – + + + + +/- Expiratory wheeze ↑ RBC Respiratory alkalosis, Metabolic acidosis ↑ Bronchovascular markings, Cardiomegaly ↓ FEV1/FVC Physical exam and

Spirometry

Heavy smoking history
Pulmonary hypertension[6] – – – – +/- +/- +/- +/- + + Accentuated S2 Normal Hypoxia and acidosis Enlarged pulmonary arteries ↑Physiologic RV Cardiac catheterization Syncope,

Ascites, Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion[7] – +/- + – + – – – +/- +/- Egophony (“E-to-A” change) Normal Normal Blunting of the costophrenic and cardiophrenic angle ↓Vt, ↑RV Light’s criteria ↓Tactile fremitus, Asymmetrical chest expansion
Cardiovascular system Constrictive pericarditis[4] – – – – + – – – + – Muffled heart sounds Normal Normal Calcifications  Normal Chest CT scan Syncope
Pericardial effusion[8] – – – +/- + + – – + – Muffled heart sounds Normal Normal Fluid density around the heart Normal M-mode and 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography Hoarseness, Palpitation

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Qureshi H, Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA (2014). “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: latest evidence and clinical implications”. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 5 (5): 212–27. doi:10.1177/2040622314532862. PMC 4131503. PMID 25177479.
  2. ↑ Currie GP, Alluri R, Christie GL, Legge JS (2007). “Pneumothorax: an update”. Postgrad Med J. 83 (981): 461–5. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2007.056978. PMC 2600088. PMID 17621614.
  3. ↑ Gaggin, Hanna K.; Januzzi, James L. (2013). “Biomarkers and diagnostics in heart failure”. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Molecular Basis of Disease. 1832 (12): 2442–2450. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.12.014. ISSN 0925-4439.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 van Steijn JH, Sleijfer DT, van der Graaf WT, van der Sluis A, Nieboer P (2002). “How to diagnose cardiac tamponade”. Neth J Med. 60 (8): 334–8. PMID 12481882.
  5. ↑ Martindale, Jennifer L.; Noble, Vicki E.; Liteplo, Andrew (2013). “Diagnosing pulmonary edema”. European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 20 (5): 356–360. doi:10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32835c2b88. ISSN 0969-9546.
  6. ↑ Sajkov D, Petrovsky N, Palange P (June 2010). “Management of dyspnea in advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension”. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 4 (2): 76–84. doi:10.1097/SPC.0b013e328338c1e0. PMID 20407377.
  7. ↑ Thomas R, Jenkins S, Eastwood PR, Lee YC, Singh B (July 2015). “Physiology of breathlessness associated with pleural effusions”. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 21 (4): 338–45. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000000174. PMC 5633324. PMID 25978627.
  8. ↑ Jung HO (2012). “Pericardial effusion and pericardiocentesis: role of echocardiography”. Korean Circ J. 42 (11): 725–34. doi:10.4070/kcj.2012.42.11.725. PMC 3518705. PMID 23236323.

Editor-In-Chief:
C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]