Tuesday September 21 2015 SOB

First off, for my Jewish readers I hope that the fast tonight and tomorrow is easy and meaningful and to my Muslim readers a happy Eid Mubark.

Lets talk about SOB. Yesterday I related (poorly) a joke told to me by my father about a client who was demonstrating SOB (shortness of breath) and confused it with another meaning for the same abbreviation.

Shortness of breath is a big concern for medical staff and when patients are complaining of shortness of breath staff acts quickly.  The causes are many and numerous. Shortness of breath can be caused by anything from a panic attack to a heart attack or stroke.

Not only is shortness of breath something a client can report feeling without measurable symptoms but it can also be measured.  Clients experiencing shortness of breath may have decreased oxygen levels in their blood (measured with a small device placed over the finger, toe, or ear). Their respiratory rate is usually INCREASED, because they're trying to get more oxygen in, and they look uncomfortable.

The best way to resolve shortness of breath is to resolve the cause of it. If the patient is having a panic attack, applying oxygen may not help but giving Ativan and easing the symptoms may help, but if the patient is having a heart attack, oxygen will help.  If the patient is experiencing an asthma attack medication to open the airway through inhalation will help.

In short- shortness of breath is a dangerous situation, and the cause needs to be diagnosed quickly to help guide treatment. It is not a cause, but is a symptom of a more serious medical condition, and should be treated with respect.