title: The effective assessment of acute breathlessness in a patient.
abstract: Breathing is a fundamental life process that usually occurs without conscious thought and, for the healthy person, is taken for granted. It involves: The coordinated action of inspiratory and expiratory muscles; The unimpeded passage of air from the atmosphere through the upper to the lower respiratory tract; The exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) across the alveolar membrane.
authors.affiliation: National Respiratory Training Centre, Warwick.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Booker
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010092:Oximetry; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000451:nursing; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods