Dyspnea is also known as Shortness of breath. Breathing difficulty is associated with simple to complex underlying pathology. It is also manifested without an underlying disease such as during exercise etc.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- CAUSES OF DYSPNEA
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DYSPNEA
- DIAGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- TREATMENTS FOR DYSPNEA
- PROGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- COMPLICATIONS OF DYSPNEA
- DYSPNEA AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DYSPNEA
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DYSPNEA
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DYSPNEA
- HOME REMEDIES FOR DYSPNEA
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DYSPNEA
- YOGA FOR DYSPNEA
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DYSPNEA
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- Difficulty in breathing
- Very fast and shallow breaths
- Palpitations
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest discomfort
CAUSES OF DYSPNEA
- During intense exercise
- High altitude problems
- Asthma
- Psychological problems like anxiety
- Pneumonia
- Low blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Hiatus hernia
- Exposure to poisonous gases
- Choking
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Anaemia
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DYSPNEA
- The pathophysiology of dyspnoea is complex. It involves the activation of several pathways that lead to increased work of breathing, stimulation of the receptors of the upper or lower airway, lung parenchyma, or chest wall, and excessive stimulation of the respiratory center by central and peripheral chemoreceptors.
- Activation of these pathways is relayed to the central nervous system via respiratory muscle and vagal afferents, which are consequently interpreted by the individual in the context of the affective state, attention, and prior experience, resulting in the awareness of breathing.
DIAGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- Complete blood count
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiography
- Pulse oximetry
- Spirometry
TREATMENTS FOR DYSPNEA
- Broncho dilators
- Oxygen supply
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Anxiolytic medicines for anxiety
- Treatment for underlying pathology
PROGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- Prognosisis highly variable it is based on the cause of the disease, duration and condition of the patient
COMPLICATIONS OF DYSPNEA
- Hypoxia
- Acute respiratory failure
DYSPNEA AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, Dyspnea falls under Swasa roga.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF DYSPNEA
- Exposure to dust, smoke
- Residing in a cold place
- Use of cold water
- Physical exertion
- Injury to vital organs
- Intake of unboiled milk
- Injury to throat and chest
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- Chest discomfort
- Restlessness
- Aversion towards food
- Bad taste in the mouth
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF DYSPNEA
Due to the causative factors, pranavata combined with Kapha leaves its path and begins to move in the upward direction, giving rise to more respirations known as swasa roga.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSPNEA
- Kshudra swasa – dyspnea occurs due to physical exertion
- Tamaka swasa – wheezing, sleeplessness, after expectorating Kapha the patient gets temporary relief
- China swasa – fainting, cutting pain in the vital parts
- Maha swasa – anxious expression, respiration sound becomes audible even from a distance
- Urdhva swasa – unconscious, tremors
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF DYSPNEA
- Kshudra swasa – curable
- Tamaka swasa – difficult to cure
- China swasa – incurable
- Maha swasa – incurable
- Urdhva swasa – incurable
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
Ayurvedic local treatment for DYSPNEA
- Svedam – local fermentation in the chest
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- Inhalation therapy
- Dasamula kashaya
- Satyadi churna
- Vasadi kashaya
- Swasa kutara rasa
- Swasanantham gulika
- swasa chinthamani rasa
- Swasa kasa chinthamani rasa
- Kanakasava
- Vasarishta
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR DYSPNEA
- Vamana – emesis
- Virechana – purgation
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR DYSPNEA
Internal administration
- Dasamula kashaya
- Vasadusparsakadi kashaya
- Vyaghriyadi Kashayam
- Indukantham Kashayam
- Elakanadi Kashayam
- Swasa kutara rasa
- Swasanandham gulika
- swasa chinthamani rasa
- Swasa kasa chinthamani rasa
- Kanakasava
- Vasarishta
- Agasthya Rasayana
- Kooshmanda Rasayana
- Thamboola Rasayana
- Thippali Rasyana
- Vyoshadi Vatakam
- Karpooradi Churna
- Dadimashtaka Churna
HOME REMEDIES FOR DYSPNEA
- Steam inhalation
- Oral administration of Juice of leaves of adathoda vasica
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DYSPNEA
- Avoid food items which produce vata and kapha dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items
- Avoid heavy exercises which further aggravate the conditions.
- Drinking warm water
- Avoid heavy meals during bedtime
YOGA FOR DYSPNEA
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – cleans the respiratory passage
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
Video: https://youtu.be/d324ZzE-uXc
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF DYSPNEA
1. Emergency ayurvedic management of dyspnea w.s.r to shvasa roga