Pustevansker

Pustevansker is the Norwegian term for breathing difficulties or shortness of breath. It is a symptom rather than a disease, indicating that the lungs or airways are not delivering enough oxygen to the body or removing carbon dioxide effectively. Pustevansker can arise from acute events or chronic conditions and may vary in severity.

Common causes include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, bronchitis, and heart failure. Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, upper airway obstruction, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, infections, and anxiety or panic attacks can also produce pustevansker. In children, causes such as croup or bronchiolitis are frequently encountered.

Symptoms often accompany pustevansker and may include rapid or labored breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, a feeling of suffocation, sweating, fatigue, and, in severe cases, blue lips or fingertips and confusion. The onset can be sudden or gradual and may be worse with exertion or infection.

Diagnosis typically involves medical history and physical examination, supported by tests such as pulse oximetry, chest X-ray, spirometry, ECG, or blood tests to identify the underlying cause.

Treatment depends on the cause. General measures include calming the patient, sitting up, and ensuring access to fresh air. Specific treatments may involve bronchodilators or corticosteroids for asthma or COPD, antibiotics for bacterial infections, fluids, oxygen therapy, or treatment of anaphylaxis. Severe or sudden, life-threatening pustevansker requires urgent emergency care.

Prevention focuses on avoiding triggers, managing chronic conditions, vaccination, and proper use of prescribed inhalers or other therapies. See also dyspnea, asthma, COPD, pneumonia.