10 Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms
Symptom #10: Dyspnea
Dyspnea refers to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. It has been defined as a subjective experience where the affected individual experiences chest tightness, the increased effort needed to breathe, and the feeling of not having enough air. Anemia is a common cause of dyspnea, primarily due to a mismatch in oxygen supply capacity and demand. Furthermore, in severe anemia cardiac failure (due to a high output state) can also cause shortness of breath. In sickle cell disease, there is considerable overlap with other mechanisms than can also produce dyspnea. For example, as mentioned above, acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease, which can also cause shortness of breath.
Dyspnea occurs in cases such as cardiac ischemia, asthma, pneumonia, heart failure, anxiety, panic disorder, interstitial lung disease, and more.
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