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Why is my mom feeling so weak and has trouble breathing?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My mother is 45 years old. She is having trouble breathing. Every move exhausts her. She is weak and needs assistance while walking. She always sits in front of a fan or air-conditioner every day while having trouble breathing. It is episodic and she gets attacks while she feels tired. It takes days to get recovered. Previously, she had heart disease but I am not sure about it.

Answered by Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Your mother is having dyspnea. Due to it, heart failure occurs. It is the inability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood needed for the body. This can also occur due to previous heart problems which can be either rheumatic valvular heart disease or congenital heart disease or coronary artery disease or some sort of cardiomyopathy.

Investigations to be done

Your mother needs to do an ECG (electrocardiogram), echocardiography, CBC (complete blood count), thyroid function test, renal and liver function test.

Probable diagnosis

Your mother seems to have congestive heart failure.

Treatment plan

She needs to take diuretics, ACEI (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or ARB (angiotensin II receptor blocker), and aldosterone antagonist.

Preventive measures

She needs to take a low salt diet.

Regarding follow up

Have a follow-up after getting the results. Kindly send me the list of medications taken by her to guide further.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At June 26, 2020
Reviewed At June 26, 2023

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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