Evaluation of dyspnea in the elderly.
The word "dyspnea" encompasses many different features. It can be considered to be a sensation, a symptom, or an illness. From a practical perspective many physicians and nurses use dyspnea to refer to difficult or labored breathing or an uncomfortable awareness of breathing. The American Thoracic Society recently defined dyspnea as a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity.
Dartmouth Medical School, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03755-0001, USA. donald.a.mahler@hitchcock.org
Donald A
DA
Mahler
Gustavo
G
Fierro-Carrion
John C
JC
Baird
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology