title: Evaluation of the dyspneic patient in the office.
abstract: Dyspnea is a nonspecific symptom of any disease involving the respiratory system. Although diseases of the lungs, chest wall, pleura, diaphragm, upper airway, and heart are most common, diseases of many other organ systems (eg, neuromuscular, skeletal, renal, endocrine, rheumatologic, hematologic, and psychiatric) may involve the respiratory system and present with dyspnea. Dyspnea should be evaluated systematically, and a thorough history and physical examination and baseline tests of heart and lung function are necessary to establish a complete database. More sophisticated testing may be needed when the cause is not readily apparent from the initial work-up. Treatment is best and most effective when geared toward a specific etiology, but if this is not possible, nonspecific treatment of the symptom pf dyspnea may afford the patient some benefit.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 N. Greene Street 3D-122, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Saiyad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Amelung
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D009819:Office Visits; D010808:Physical Examination; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation