Guide To Common Aortic Dissection Symptoms

Shortness Of Breath

The shortness of breath that occurs with this emergency often appears suddenly and is generally severe. Patients may gasp for air and feel as though they cannot take a full breath. They may breathe very rapidly, and their breaths may tend to be shallow. The severity of the shortness of breath the patient experiences could make it difficult for them to speak.

As part of hospital treatment, patients will be given supplemental oxygen and medications to make it easier to breathe. Some of these treatments can be provided by paramedics on the way to the emergency room. Doctors at the hospital will assess a patient's shortness of breath by observing their breathing pattern, listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, and measuring their respiration rate. Shortness of breath often resolves if the aortic dissection is successfully treated.

Read more about the major warning signs of aortic dissection now.