Vicarious breathlessness: an inferential perceptual learned transposition process that may not be inconsequential to either patient or caregiver. Issue 4 (5th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, Miriam J.; Gozal, David
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 51:Issue 4(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-05
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00306-2018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

People with common chronic cardiorespiratory conditions can live with chronic breathlessness for years [1]. Disabling chronic breathlessness, persisting despite optimum treatment of the underlying cause [2], is experienced by almost all patients with advanced lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [3], and carries a significant emotional, social, health and economic load. Intimately related to physical activity, chronic breathlessness reduces the ability to carry out activities of daily living [4] and restricts the role in the family, workplace or wider society [5]. These consequences, with additional frightening severe episodes of breathless crises, lead not only to acute emotional responses that not only widely activate a multitude of brain regions [6], but also promote the insidious development of depression, anxiety and panic, and a reduction in physical and mental quality of life proportionate with the severity of breathlessness [7]. Education and training for caregivers of breathless patients is crucially important http://ow.ly/U52C30iTCpW