Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

I understand your concern and would like to explain that your shortness of breathing needs to be carefully investigated through a comprehensive differential diagnosis.

(1) First of all, as your breathing complaints seem to be obvious the last two weeks, instead of COPD that can not be excluded (but less likely), an acute respiratory infection (acute bronchitis or pneumonia) or pulmonary embolism should be carefully sought.

For this purpose, besides a careful physical examination, some medical tests are necessary:

- complete blood count (exclude anemia and investigate for inflammation/infection),
- PCR,
- ESR,
- chest X ray study,
- arterial blood gas analysis,
- pulmonary function tests (in COPD is highly suspected after medical review)
- resting ECG

If pulmonary embolism is suspected, then a lung ventilation/perfusion scan or pulmonary angio CT would be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

(2) Another possible cause implicated in dyspnea may be heart failure. If you have a previously known cardiomyopathy, it is necessary to review the actual conditions for excluding a possible cardiac decompensation.

In this regard, a careful physical exam for confirming systemic venous congestion (limbs edema, pulmonary rales, jugular veins distension) is necessary, coupled with some tests:

- cardiac ultrasound
- blood natriuretic peptides (BNP, NT-proBNP) level


Only after checking the above medical issues, it would be possible to give a correct answer of your recent complaints.

I recommend discussing with your attending physician on the above mentioned issues for arriving to the right cause of breathing problems.

Hope to have been helpful to you!

In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

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