Treatment of shortness of breath in respiratory and lung diseases
Depending on the illness, we will treat the shortness of breath differently:
- Allergic bronchial asthma is treated with inhalations of bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory medication.
- In the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema, bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drugs are also used, combined with long-term oxygen therapy.
- Drugs such as pirfenidone and nintedanib are available for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and are intended to slow down the progression of the disease.
- A pulmonary embolismcan be life-threatening and requires intensive medical treatment. The affected person is given medication to dissolve the blood clot in the pulmonary vessel.
- Depending on its form, pulmonary hypertension can be treated with medication or interventional treatment. Precise diagnosis and care at the Special Center for Pulmonary Hypertension is crucial for successful treatment (pulmonalehypertonie@usz.ch).
- In the case of bacterial respiratory tract or lung inflammation , which occurs acutely and is accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as coughing and sputum production, we will administer antibiotics. Other types of pneumonia are treated specifically.
- In the case of a unilateral pleural effusion, we will – depending on its size – drain the pleural cavity by means of a diagnostic pleural puncture; in the case of bilateral effusions in the context of heart failure, we will use diuretics.
- Surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are helpful for respiratory and lung tumors, depending on their form.
Treatment of shortness of breath in cardiovascular diseases
Acute coronary syndrome with shortness of breath must be treated immediately with intensive care in order to remove the blockage in the heart artery. This is possible either with a cardiac catheter or with thrombolysis (intravenous administration of fibrinolytics). In some cases a bypass operation is necessary. Acute left heart failure with pulmonary edema is also an emergency that requires inpatient treatment – including the administration of oxygen and diuretics.
In the case of pericarditis, we use anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication as well as the active ingredient colchicine. In the case of additional pericardial effusion, diuretics and possibly antibiotics are added. Depending on the cause, myocarditis is treated either with antibiotics, with special antiviral drugs or with cortisone and other immunosuppressants.
Heart valve diseases that cause shortness of breath usually have to be repaired by means of an operation/intervention. The correct classification and diagnosis is crucial for high blood pressure in the pulmonary vessels. There are special drugs for certain subgroups, such as the endothelin receptor antagonists, the PDE-5 inhibitors, riociguat and the prostacyclin analogs.
Treatment of shortness of breath in other diseases
The treatment of shortness of breath in other diseases varies greatly depending on the cause:
- In the event of a rib fracture or vertebral blockage, we will prescribe pain-relieving medication and immobilization or special physiotherapy.
- If a foreign body is aspirated, it must be removed immediately.
- In the case of acute altitude sickness, descending to at least 1,000 meters, hyperbaric therapy and the administration of oxygen, sometimes combined with medication, are life-saving.
- Sleep apnea is treated with constant positive airway pressure – using a mask that the affected person wears during sleep.
