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General Practitioner's Section |
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Treatment of Hysterical Dyspnoea
O P Kapoor |
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Hysterical dyspnoea is very common in private practice.
Quite often it is primary. But off and on, we see patients of bronchial
asthma, who develop super-added hysterical dyspnoea. The doctor
notices that the patient is taking fast, deep breaths and is complaining
of tingling, numbness or spasms in the hands or feet. This confirms
the diagnosis of hysteria. In the past, I recommended a paper bag
for deep breathing.
The modern family physicians must keep an oxygen concentrator. Such patients
should be given oxygen for a few minutes. Do not be surprised to see excellent
results! Is it the effect of oxygen or in case of female patients, is it the
fact that she has been able to draw the attention of a large number of people
and her mother-in-law? May be with recovery after oxygen therapy, they will treat
her with greater love, respect and fear! The literature has not helped me to
find an answer to this dilemma. |
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Admissions for chest pain are increasing
People in Scotland are more likely to be admitted with
acute coronary syndrome than before. Examining trends in
the population discharge rates in Scotland for acute myocardial
infarction, angina, and chest pain, Murphy and colleagues
found that the rate of hospitalisation for myocardial infarction
declined by 33% between 1990 and 2000. Admissions for angina
increased by 79%, for chest pain by 110%, and for acute
coronary syndrome by 25%.
BMJ, 2004; 328 : 1413
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