Dyspnea - Differential Diagnosis Framework



Cardiovascular Causes of Dyspnea:

 • Myocardium:

	- Heart failure

	- CAD/ACS

	- Valvulopathy

 • Electrical:

	- Arrhythmia

		- Too fast

		- Too slow

 • Pericardium:

	- Constrictive

	- Tamponade



Pulmonary Causes of Dyspnea:

 • Airways:

	- Asthma

	- COPD

	- Bronchiectasis

 • Parenchyma: ILD

 • Alveoli:

	- Water

	- Pus

	- Blood

 • Pleura:

	- Effusion

	- Pneumothorax

 • Vasculature:

	- PE

	- Pulmonary HTN

	- Vasculitis

	- Hepatopulmonary syndrome



Other Causes of Dyspnea:

 • Chest Wall:

	- Kyphoscoliosis

	- Obesity

	- Flail chest

 • Neuromuscular:

	- Myasthenia

	- Guillain Barre

	- ALS

	- Transverse myelitis

 • Hematology:

	- Anemia

 • Additional:

	- Acidosis

	- T4

	- Anxiety

	- Deconditioning

	- Pain



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