title: [Dyspnea - pathophysiology and differential diagnosis].
abstract: Shortness of breath is a very common symptom and hence of interest for physicians of various specialities. Despite research including modern imaging methods the neurophysiology of dyspnea is still poorly understood. According to a frequently suggested theory, the basic mechanisms consist of a mismatch between efferent signals to the respiratory muscles and the afferent feedback from pulmonary and chest-wall receptors, which reflect the efficiency of innervation. A concept, useful in daily practice divides acute and chronic forms of dyspnea according to an increase need of breathing and/or an impaired organ function.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich, Zürich. erich.russi@usz.ch
authors.forename: Erich W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Russi
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics