What Causes Dyspnea In A Person With Sleep Apnea And Diabetes?

Posted on Mon, 11 Jul 2016

Question: My husband has been diagnosed with dyspea in the emergency room on 6/4 medications listed above. Need your recommendation.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Is he having sleep apnea?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Dyspnea is very big symptom which is seen in many diseases. Mostly seem with heart and lung diseases.
I have gone through the drug list you have provided.
But I want to know few more things about his symptoms.
1. Since how long he is having Dyspnea?
2. Is he having sleep apnea? I am asking this because you are saying that he is using CPAP.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your husband. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

He does have sleep apnea and has exhibited symptoms of shortness of breath with mild activity, but he is obese. He just recently got the diagnosis of diabetes 2 and started taking metformin on 6/2. The shortness of breath started long ago. He was so concerned about his diagnosis of diabetes that he cut way back on eating and has lost 20 pounds in about a month.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Was he smoker?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So he is having long history of sleep apnea, obesity and shortness of breath.
So possibility of lung and heart related diseases is more.
Please let me know
1. Is he a smoker?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Let me know if you have any recommendations other than diet and if he should see his primary care physician.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, he should definitely see his primary physician.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, he should definitely see his primary physician.
He will need ecg, 2d echo to rule out heart related causes for his shortness of breath.
He will also need PFT (pulmonary function test) to rule out bronchitis as this is commonly seen with sleep apnea.
In diet, better to avoid excess salt, fat and spicy food.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your husband. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar