Cardiology Differential Diagnosis for Shortness of Breath
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Heart Failure: This is often the most common cause of shortness of breath in patients with a history of cardiac disease. Heart failure can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema), causing shortness of breath.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Although not exclusively a cardiac issue, COPD often coexists with cardiac conditions and can cause shortness of breath due to airflow limitation.
- Asthma: Similar to COPD, asthma is a pulmonary condition that can cause shortness of breath, but it may also have cardiac implications, especially if there's associated pulmonary hypertension.
- Coronary Artery Disease: Angina or a myocardial infarction can cause shortness of breath, either due to ischemia reducing the heart's pumping efficiency or due to associated heart failure.
- Cardiac Arrhythmias: Certain arrhythmias, especially those that significantly reduce cardiac output (like atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response), can lead to shortness of breath.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Pulmonary Embolism: Although less common than heart failure or COPD, pulmonary embolism is potentially life-threatening and must be considered, especially in patients with risk factors such as recent surgery, immobilization, or known thrombophilia.
- Cardiac Tamponade: This condition, where fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac compressing the heart, can lead to a life-threatening reduction in cardiac output and must be promptly diagnosed and treated.
- Aortic Dissection: A tear in the aorta's inner layer can cause severe pain and shortness of breath, among other symptoms, and is immediately life-threatening.
Rare Diagnoses
- Constrictive Pericarditis: A condition where the pericardium becomes stiff and fibrotic, restricting the heart's ability to fill and pump blood, leading to shortness of breath among other symptoms.
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: A condition where the heart muscle becomes stiff, making it difficult for the heart to fill with blood, which can cause shortness of breath.
- Pulmonary Venous Occlusion: Blockage of the pulmonary veins can cause shortness of breath due to the inability of blood to return from the lungs to the heart.