Signs of Serious Diseases

p>Shortness Of Breath Called DyspneaThe hemorrhage from the lungs in tuberculosis is due
When people get so short of breath that the veryto actual erosion or destruction of blood vessels by
effort of breathing is difficult and when breathing isthe disease. Cavities form in the lung in tuberculosis
harsh and labored, anyone can tell that something isdue to destructive action by the germs. The blood
wrong. Since respiration is necessary to life difficultvessels in the walls of these cavities may be eroded.
breathing creates serious anxiety. Usually peopleOne of the dangers is spread of the infection by
breathe eighteen to twenty times a minute, andinhaling and by forcible expulsion of germs in severe
regularly. The breathing is effortless and without anycoughing.
special sensation. If breathing becomes irregular or ifAmong young people with hearts that have been
a severe effort has to be made to get enoughdamaged by disease, especially with narrowing of the
breath, pain may appear.mitral valve of the heart, the backing up of blood into
Anyone can get short of breath after severe workthe lungs causes swelling of the large and small blood:
or exhaustive exercise. Shortness of breath occursvessels with occasional breaking and therefore a
more often in fat people than in thin ones, in oldhemorrhage from the lungs.
people than in young ones, and in women than inAny time blood comes from the lungs the symptom
men.should be taken as a warning that something serious
When shortness of breath is not accompanied byhas occurred.
extra effort, the trouble may be more mental thanPalpitation Of The Heart
physical. Anyone can imitate shortness of breath.Ordinarily we are not aware of the beating of our
Allergic conditions and asthma which narrow thehearts. If you do become conscious of the heart's
bronchial tubes bring on "wheezing." Damage to thebeating, the symptom may have significance but
diaphragm, the lining of the chest cavity or the lungsoften is unimportant. Many letters come to doctors
may bring about trouble in breathing. In pneumoniawho write health columns from people who say they
when a portion of the lung is inflamed and congested,have noticed that their hearts were flopping, skipping,
the breathing is labored. Severe anemia, whichpounding, bumping or fluttering.
lessens the supply of blood able to carry oxygen,If you run too hard or engage in too much muscular
may result in quickened breathing to get theactivity an extra burden is put on your heart, and
necessary oxygen to the tissues.you may feel it pounding. As soon as you have
The most important causes of shortness of breath"caught your breath," the sensation disappears. When
are diseases of the heart and lung, and disordersthe heart beats too rapidly, as it does in excessive
which in any way prevent air from getting into theaction of the thyroid or in other disturbances, you
lungs. As with every other part of the body, damagebecome aware of it. People seem to be conscious of
to the nervous system can also be reflected insudden alterations in the heart rate. Different people
serious difficulties with breathing.respond differently to various conditions that affect
Bleeding From The Lungs-Hemoptysisthe body. Those who are placid may pass without
Blood coming from the lungs is usually bright red andnoticing a situation that will seriously disturb a person
frothy whereas that from the stomach may be darkwho is sensitive to minor stimulation.
red, brown or black and mixed with scraps of food.Palpitation may be due to sudden alteration of the
Vomiting is usually preceded by retching and nausea,heart rate, particularly in the cases when the heart
but a hemorrhage from the lung may come quietlybeats too rapidly; this condition in turn may be due to
and without warning. Blood in the lung may beexcessive action of the thyroid gland. Anemia,
associated with severe coughing and occasionallyhemorrhage, fever, and a lessened amount of sugar
severe coughing may tear tissue so as to producein the blood are other conditions in which palpitations
bleeding.occur. In such instances an excess of epinephrine
In the early stages of pneumonia a severe coughsecreted by the adrenal gland may be basically
may bring up blood, because the lungs are at thatresponsible. Many people who complain of palpitation
time heavily congested. Such blood has a rusty orconstantly swallow air while eating too rapidly; when
prone juice color, but may be bright red.the stomach is distended they become conscious of
Among the commonest causes of blood from thethe beating of the heart.
lungs, in the absence' of tuberculosis, is the passing ofMany people described as nervous and who have
a clot elsewhere in the body into the pulmonarynothing physically wrong complain of palpitations.
artery, the large blood vessel that supplies the lungThese people have a cardiac neurosis in which their
with blood. The small blood vessels around the areaminds are centered on their heart action. The
become congested and the irritation causes a coughsuspicion that one has heart disease may set up or
which may bring up blood.intensify such a neurosis. A doctor can find out the
In chronic bronchiectasis the surface tissue of thefacts, and thus cure both the neurosis and the
bronchial tubes may be torn with severe coughing sopalpitation which arises from it.
that blood appears in the sputum.