- Grades of Dyspnea.

Grades of Dyspnea

Two scoring systems can be adopted to evaluate the dysnea changing it from subjective complaint to objective complaint.

1-American Thoracic society score (ATS):
Grade 0:- No breathlessness except with strenuous exercise.
Grade 1:- Breathlessness when hurrying on the level or walking up a slight hill.
Grade 2:- Walks slower than people of the same age on the level because of breathlessness or has to stop for breath when walking at own pace on level.
Grade 3:- stop for breath after walking about 100 yards (96 meter) or a few minutes on the level.
Grade 4:- Too breathless to heave the house or breathless when dressing or underdressing.

2-New york heart association score (NYHA)

There are four functional  grades of  Dyspnea as follows:-

1. Grade I (minimal Dyspnea):  Dyspnea on running or on doing more than ordinary effort .

2. Grade II : on doing ordinary effort .

3. Grade III (considerable Dyspnea) : on doing less than  ordinary effort .
4. Grade IV : Dyspnea at rest.

*Ordinary effort is that of the person himself as regard his previous effort tolerance and usual life style.

*Reference:-
- Basics of respiratory medicine,Staff members,Thoracic medicine department,mansourauniversity,3ed,2009,symptoms of chest disease P.g 57.

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