Shortness of breath, expiratory: reasons. Shortness of breath inspiratory and expiratory

Dyspnea of an expiratory nature occurs when a bronchospasm appears. This breaks the patency of small bronchi. Bronchioles narrow, they contain a secret, and the mucous membrane swells.

Types of dyspnea

Difficulty breathing doctors often call dyspnea. This is a respiratory function disorder that occurs with a number of diseases. Dyspnoea may be inspiratory. It is characterized by a labored inhalation. This kind of dyspnea can arise in case of heart failure or upper respiratory tract infection. It can appear due to bronchospasm spasm, accumulation of pathological secretion, tumors compressing the respiratory tract, edema of the mucosa.

A slow exhalation, at which a small whistle can be heard, is a sign that the expiration of breath is expiratory. It occurs when swelling of the mucous membrane, accumulation in the bronchioles of a secret or the appearance of obstacles that impair the patency of the small bronchi.

There is also mixed shortness of breath. It is characteristic of acute respiratory failure.

It must be understood that shortness of breath - inspiratory and expiratory - is caused by various causes. Therefore, there are different approaches to the treatment of these conditions.

Causes of the appearance of expiratory breathing

People suffering from bronchial asthma or frequent obstructive bronchitis, know what symptoms accompany these diseases. One of their main symptoms is the appearance of dyspnea. It is characterized by a slow exhalation, which is accompanied by a whistle. The thorax almost does not participate in breathing. She is constantly in a position typical for inspiration.

Espiratory dyspnea is typical for such diseases as:

- bronchial asthma;

Bronchiolitis or obstructive bronchitis;

- chronic lung anemia, characterized by loss of tissue elasticity;

- Bronchial tumors;

- COPD;

- Pneumosclerosis of the lungs.

Also, it may appear if you get into the respiratory tract of a foreign body. But when an obstacle appears in the trachea and larynx, inspiratory dyspnea appears. But with the narrowing of the large bronchus and trachea, it is difficult to breathe in and out.

Characteristic features

If the lung function is impaired, expiratory dyspnea may appear. In this case, the inhalation is normal, and the exhalation is difficult. To release air from the lungs, the patient is forced to make efforts. Breathing muscles start to work more actively.

Many complain of pain in the area of the chest. Cyanosis of the lips can also develop, the skin becomes paler. People with this kind of dyspnea often have increased sweating. With the aggravation of the situation, the skin may acquire a gray tint, markedly growing weakness.

Despite the fact that expiratory dyspnea is difficult to exhale, the patient may begin to suffocate. But dyspnoea can also be unprintable. The intensity of dyspnea manifestations will depend on the reasons for which it appeared, from the stage of the disease, the presence of sputum.

With the development of this type of dyspnea air can enter the lungs, but because of the edema and spasm of the walls of the bronchi, it does not completely exit. Often the situation is complicated by the accumulation of viscous mucus.

Clinical signs

It is not always possible to understand that the patient has had trouble breathing. In order to pay attention in time and notice the onset of an attack before complications appear, one must know the signs of expiratory dyspnea.

One of the main points on which you should pay attention is the length of the exit. It increases noticeably. In some cases, its duration may exceed the inspiratory length by a factor of 2. Exhalation is accompanied by considerable muscle tension. Symptoms of a change in intrathoracic pressure also appear. This is evidenced by the bulging and falling of the intercostal spaces. Simultaneously, on the exhalation, the veins of the neck become visible.

Expiratory dyspnea is characteristic of bronchial asthma. With the long course of this disease, you can notice a characteristic boxed sound, which arises from the excessive accumulation of air. After all, this limits the movement of the diaphragm. When tapping certain areas of the chest, you can see that the boundaries of the lungs are omitted.

But there are other signs of expiratory dyspnea, which can be noticed by people without medical education. When you exhale, you can hear a slight whistle or a characteristic crunchy sound (crepitation). In some cases, it is even audible from a distance.

Symptoms of diseases

Given that the dyspnea expiratory is a sign of the development of some of the respiratory diseases, we must understand how the disease should be determined.

For example, if a patient has obstructive bronchitis, then its characteristic feature is not only the development of respiratory failure, but a rise in temperature. In addition, the patient has increased weakness, pale skin, acrocyanosis. Cyanotic skin color is manifested in the areas of the body far from the heart: fingers and toes, ear conchaes, lips, nose tip.

But often such a symptom is a sign that asthma has started. Dyspnoea expiratory occurs with exacerbation of the disease. In most cases, it begins when you contact the allergen. The disease is seasonal in nature. However, deterioration may occur if inhaled tobacco smoke or other substances with a sharp odor. Sometimes exacerbation of asthma is associated with increased physical exertion. Often seizures begin in the morning or evening hours.

Troubleshooting

In some cases it is necessary to conduct special examinations to understand the nature of dyspnoea. Especially dangerous is its occurrence in childhood. In children, expiratory dyspnea is often observed with obstructive bronchitis. In this case, you need to go to the hospital for help. In a medical institution they can not only accurately establish a diagnosis, but also provide the necessary qualified assistance.

To clarify the nature of dyspnea is possible with the help of radiography, ECG, ECHO. A study of the gas composition of blood is also shown. The degree of bronchial obstruction can be identified by measuring the vital volume of the lungs or by making pneumotachometry.

First aid

If you or a person in your environment suffers from asthma attacks, then you need to know what can be done before the arrival of doctors. First of all, such a patient must be seated and try to calm him down. Stress leads to an increase in heart rate and to an increase in the consumption of oxygen and a number of nutrients. Because of this, dyspnea expiratory may begin to develop more.

The room in which a patient with a dyspnea attack is located should be well ventilated. In addition, attention should be paid to the humidity of the air. If it is excessively dry, it is advisable to put a pot or kettle of water on the fire and open the lid. You can also hang wet towels or sheets.

Necessary treatment

If the cause of dyspnoea was spasm, then bronchodilators can help. People who suffer from asthma should always have inhalers on hand. Such patients during seizures should use leukotyrene receptor antagonists, monoclonal antibodies, cromones. If the patient is not given appropriate therapy, then in the course of time he may have decreased sensitivity to bronchial dilators (substances that relax smooth muscles and increase their lumen). Because of this, the patient may develop uncontrolled attacks of dyspnea.

To remove spasm can be used such tools as "Salbutamol", "Berotek", "Ventolin", "Metapril", "Fenoterol", "Berodual", "Terbutaline". But each of these medicines has side effects and contraindications. Therefore, the selection of the right drug should be carried out together with the doctor.

In obstructive bronchitis also prescribed inhalation, because this disease is characterized by the appearance of expiratory dyspnea. The plan of nursing interventions in this case is to provide bed rest to the patient, limit physical activity and organize the treatment process. The nurse must follow the instructions of the doctor.

Preventive measures

In some cases, with airway disease, it is possible to prevent the development of an attack. To do this, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of physicians. They boil down to what is needed:

- refrain from smoking and other harmful habits, avoid visiting places where there may be tobacco smoke;

- minimize contact with possible allergens, including household chemicals;

- Carry out hardening, vitamin therapy;

- to reconsider a way of life, to give sufficient time to a high-grade food and rest;

- when using bronchitis, use expectorants;

- When attaching bacterial infection, use antibiotics.

Observance of the recommended preventive measures and the rapid onset of treatment in the event of an attack, contribute to the patient's ability to control dyspnea. It is also important to remember that expiratory dyspnea occurs in diseases of the respiratory tract due to the narrowing of the small bronchi. Symptomatic therapy should be aimed at relaxing the smooth muscles.