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Signs and symptoms
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Possible cause |
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Cold and clammy skin
Shallow, rapid breathing
Anxious/restless
Rapid or irregular heartbeat, weak pulse
Hypotension
Dizziness or light-headedness
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Shock — may be from heart attack, sepsis, tension pneumothorax, large pulmonary embolus (PE), anaphylaxis, severe dehydration, internal haemorrhage (eg GIH, ectopic pregnancy) — medical consult |
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Fatigue/ weakness
Dizziness or light-headedness
Rapid heartbeat or pounding in the chest, may be chest pain
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Heart arrhythmias — medical consult
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Sudden onset of shortness of breath
Chest pain (worse with breathing)
Dizziness or light-headedness
Sweating
Racing or irregular heartbeat
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Pulmonary embolism — medical consult |
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Chest pain
Shorten of breath and worse lying flat
Wheeze and/or crackles in lungs
May have pink, frothy sputum
High BP
Swollen legs
Anxious, fearful, exhausted
Hard to get to sleep, wakes up at night,
Missed dialysis
History of heart trouble, RHD, CAD, CCF
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Pulmonary oedema — medical consult
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Sharp pain on breathing
Decreased air entry and chest expansion on affected side
Worsens over minutes to an hour
May have history of chronic lung disease — don’t assume just COPD
May be young healthy person
May be after chest injury or after playing sport
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Pneumothorax — medical consult
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Severe, rapidly increasing shortness of breath, anxiety
Fast pulse, low BP
Often after chest injury or in people with chronic lung disease
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Tension pneumothorax — medical consult
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Fever, cough, looks unwell
May have sharp chest pain, worse on deep breathing
May have reduced breath sounds, crackles in lungs
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Pneumonia
— medical consult
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History of chronic lung problems and/or long-term smoker
Usually no fever
Change in colour of sputum
Anxious and breathing fast — emphysema
Slow breathing and depressed level of consciousness — acute OR chronic bronchitis with CO2 retention
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Exacerbation of chronic lung disease — medical consult
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Cough with wheeze
Tripod posture, restless, fearful if severe
Drowsy or blue if peri-arrest
Usually known to have asthma
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Acute asthma — medical consult
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Swelling of the lips or tongue
Wheeze and short of breath
Stridor — harsh breaths
Light-headed/collapse
Hypotension
Welts
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Anaphylaxis — medical consult
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Anxious/fearful/upset
Strong feeling of dread, danger, losing control
Dizziness or light-headedness
Trembling, shaking
Tingling finger or lips
Sweating or hot flushes
Rapid/deep respiration
Rapid heart rate
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Anxiety/panic attack — medical consult
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