benauwing

Benauwing is a Dutch term describing the sensation of breathlessness or suffocation. It may refer to a subjective feeling of not getting enough air or to a physical impairment of air intake. In medical contexts the concept corresponds to dyspnea (dyspnoea), though benauwing is primarily a lay term rather than a precise diagnosis.

Causes are varied and include respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and pulmonary edema; cardiovascular problems such as heart failure; airway obstruction from allergic reactions or foreign bodies; exposure to smoke or high altitude; and non-physical factors such as anxiety or panic attacks.

Symptoms often overlap with chest tightness, rapid or shallow breathing, wheeze, coughing, dizziness, and fear. The experience can be acute or chronic and ranges from mild discomfort to life-threatening distress.

Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation by a healthcare professional and may involve measuring oxygen saturation, lung function testing (spirometry), chest imaging, and assessment of heart and circulation. The underlying cause dictates treatment.

Acute management aims to relieve airway obstruction and improve oxygenation; this may include bronchodilators, supplemental oxygen, or emergency care for severe cases. Long-term treatment addresses the root condition, such as inhaled medications for asthma or COPD, management of heart disease, allergy control, and strategies to reduce triggers.

Benauwing is a descriptive term rather than a disease, used to communicate the experience of breathlessness in both clinical and everyday contexts.