PO Box 4066 Alice Springs NT 0871
P: +61 8 8951 4700
General Enquiries: remotephcmanuals@flinders.edu.au
A medical consult is recommended where there is no specific protocol for a condition
Table 1.11 Causes of breathing problems in adults
Signs and symptoms
Cold and clammy skin
Shallow, rapid breathing
Anxious/restless
Rapid or irregular heartbeat, weak pulse
Hypotension
Dizziness or light-headedness
Fatigue/ weakness
Dizziness or light-headedness
Rapid heartbeat or pounding in the chest, may be chest pain
Heart arrhythmias — medical consult
Sudden onset of shortness of breath
Chest pain (worse with breathing)
Dizziness or light-headedness
Sweating
Racing or irregular heartbeat
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
Pulmonary oedema — medical consult
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
Pneumothorax — medical consult
Severe, rapidly increasing shortness of breath, anxiety
Fast pulse, low BP
Often after chest injury or in people with chronic lung disease
Tension pneumothorax — medical consult
Fever, cough, looks unwell
May have sharp chest pain, worse on deep breathing
May have reduced breath sounds, crackles in lungs
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
Exacerbation of chronic lung disease — medical consult
Cough with wheeze
Tripod posture, restless, fearful if severe
Drowsy or blue if peri-arrest
Usually known to have asthma
Acute asthma — medical consult
Swelling of the lips or tongue
Wheeze and short of breath
Stridor — harsh breaths
Light-headed/collapse
Hypotension
Welts
Anaphylaxis — medical consult
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
Anxiety/panic attack — medical consult
PO Box 4066 Alice Springs NT 0871
P: +61 8 8951 4700
General Enquiries: remotephcmanuals@flinders.edu.au