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16 - Dyspnoea of Pregnancy

from Section 4 - Pulmonary Conditions Related to Pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2020

By
Stephen E. Lapinsky  and
Ghada Bourjeily
Edited by
Stephen E. Lapinsky  and
Lauren A. Plante
Stephen E. Lapinsky
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Lauren A. Plante
Affiliation:
Drexel University Hospital, Philadelphia
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Summary

Dyspnoea is a common complaint in pregnant women, and may occur as a result of the physiological changes in pregnancy or due to cardio-respiratory disease. A prospective observational study of 62 pregnant women identified that 76% experienced dyspnoea at some point during their pregnancy. Approximately half became symptomatic before 20 weeks’ gestation and the incidence increased until about 30 weeks’ gestation. It is important to be aware that some complications of pregnancy may produce dyspnoea in the previously well patient, so it is important to differentiate pathological conditions from this physiological dyspnoea. This chapter reviews the mechanisms of dyspnoea of pregnancy and the differentiation from pathological conditions.

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Chapter
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Respiratory Disease in Pregnancy , pp. 159 - 162
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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