- Shortness of breath is often a sign of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and thus should not be ignored or left unattended. Both patients and family need to be aware of any changes in the breathing pattern.
- Patients with chronic diseases should take their medication as instructed by their doctor. If there are any changes in the condition of the disease, the patient should visit the ER or schedule an appointment as soon as possible to visit his/her corresponding doctor for the further examination and/or prescription alteration if necessary.
- When experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or noticing the lips or nails turn blue or gray, the patient should sit up and take long deep breaths. Stop any oral intake of food or water. Do not get out of bed. If having been previously instructed, give the patient oxygen or emergent medication for symptom relief and immediate seek medical attention.
- After adequate treatment for dyspnea, some patients may be discharged with new or changes in medication and scheduled for follow-up at the chest medicine outpatient department.
- Please return to the hospital as soon as possible if there are following symptoms：
- Persistent high fever
- Chest pain
- Cold sweating
- Lips or nails turning blue or gray
- Inability to lie down
- Rapid progressive leg edema
Chest
- Rest and drink plenty of water. Eat and swallow slowly.
- Avoid eating iced, cold or sweet food and beverages. Hold off oranges and grapefruit temporarily.
- Wear masks that cover the nose and mouth area to prevent spreading the disease and also to help minimize symptom exacerbation from cold air, dust, or cigarette smoke.
- Try breathing deep and using the diaphragm to expectorate sputum.
- Do not drink or eat for half an hour after taking cough syrup.
- Take medication as instructed and follow-up as scheduled
- Please call or return to the hospital as soon as possible if there are following symptoms：
- Persistent high fever
- Wheezing
- Large amounts of purulent yellowish sputums
- Severe dry cough
- Lips or nails turning blue or gray
- Coughing blood
- Always carry your asthma medications with you at all times in case of exacerbations. Take the medications according to doctor’s instructions
- Avoid contact with allergens such as cigarette, pollen, cold air, dust, and pets.
- Wearing masks and scarves is suggested when there is much diurnal temperature variation. Avoid the crowded public places during flu season.
- Adequate exercise with a balanced and healthy diet will help minimize asthma attack frequency.
- During acute asthma attacks, use bronchodilator or breathe oxygen masks as instructed by the physician. Sit up and take slow long breaths until symtpoms improve. Do not eat or move excessively.
- Please call or return to the hospital as soon as possible if there are following symptoms：
- Severe wheezing
- Breathing difficulties
- Lips or nails turning blue or gray
- Persistent symptoms despite bronchodilator use
- High fever
- Chills
- Cough with large amount purulent yellowish phlegm
- Keep your oxygen tank far away from open fire (like a gas stove) or any other heating source. Avoid smoking or using flammable substance around the tank.
- DO NOT stop or change your flow of oxygen. Talk with your provider if you think you are not getting the right amount.
- Dampen your damp nostrils and lips with wet swabs if you feel dry mouth, throat, and nose during oxygen use.
- If oxygen device is causing discomfort in the face, ear or nose, please inform the medical personnel for adjustment.
- Chest pain may be caused by simple chest wall neuromuscular diseases or may be a warning sign due to a cardiovascular diseases.
- Please seek immediate help or call 119 if there is persistent chest pain accompanied by the following symptoms：
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweating
- Loss of consciousness
- Patients with chronic heart disease should adhere to their prescriptions and not alter the dosage without the doctor’s instructions.
- Take medication as instructed and follow-up as scheduled.
- Please inform the medical personnel immediately if there is any shortness of breath, chest discomfort, cold sweating or dizziness.
- Keep movements slow and deliberate. Avoid pulling or manipulating the chest tube and be careful not to knock over the collecting bottle.
- If the drainage bottle should knock over or the chest tube slips out, exhale at once and hold your breath. Use the clamp provided at the bedside and clamp the chest tube at the exposed end (or fold and bend the tube if the clamp could not be found) and inform the medical personnel immediately.
- Maintain a comfortable semi-reclined position. Reposition your body at least once every two hour to promote drainage and to prevent pressure sores.
- Breathe deep and cough deep. Move and walk as instructed to improve ventilation.
- Avoid raising the drainage bottle above the waist.
- Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, under radiotherapy or immunosuppresants, or other reasons.
- Patients usually experience pain, itching or burning sensation over the affected area 4-5 days before skin lesion appears.
- The skin lesions distribute along a localized strip, a dermatome, and usually involve only one side. The most commonly affected area is the chest, but lesions over the face, waist or limbs is also possible. Symptoms usually last for 7 days, and the vesicles may blister and turn into crust and then scar and peel in 2-3 weeks.
- Take medication as instructed and follow-up as scheduled.
- Practice good hygiene and do not burst the vesicles to prevent infection.
- If there is persistent fever, shortness of breath, headache, loss or change consciousness, or blurry vision, return to the hospital at once.
- Hyperventilation is usually induced by an accumulation of negative emotions (anger, fear, anxiety, etc..) The autonomic nervous system spins out of control and the patient involuntarily develops rapid and shallow breaths, resulting in the feeling of being unable to breath.
- Associated symptoms may include dizziness, rapid heart beat, pale skin, cold extremities and unsteady gait. The hands or feet may cramp and patient may even faint in severe case.
- Help the patient calm down and take deep and slow breaths through the nose.
- Hyperventilation may be easily prevented by understanding the nature of the disorder and learning to control and relax in stressful situations. Visit a psychiatrist if recurrence is too frequent.
- Shortness of breath may be caused by other cardiac, pulmonary or endocrine disorders. Schedule a doctor’s appointment when in doubt.
- To prevent irritation of the airway, avoid smoking or dusting (use a mop or vacuum instead) . Avoid crowded public areas or close contact with people with a respiratory tract infection.
- Wearing masks and scarves is suggested when there is much diurnal temperature variation. Avoid the crowded public places during flu season.
- When there is coughing, avoid eating iced, cold or sweet food and beverages. Hold off oranges and grapefruit temporarily.
- Eat a balanced nutrition with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Exercise long deep breaths and maintain a healthy lifestyle with adequate exercise.
- Take medication as instructed and follow-up as scheduled.
- During exacerbation, sit up, minimize activities, and stop eating or drinking. Take long deep breaths and take emergent medication if previously instructed by a physician.
- Please call or return to the hospital as soon as possible if there are following symptoms：
- Acute severe shortness of breath or rapid shallow breaths
- Much yellowish sputum
- Lips or nails turning blue or gray
- Wheezing
- Cold sweating