In this article, we will discuss about Severity Scale of Dyspnea (American Thoracic Society). So, let’s get started.
Dyspnea is defined as difficult or labored breathing. It is an important sign of disease associated with the airway, lungs or heart. The American Thoracic Society has postulated the scale to grade the severity of dyspnea which is described below,
Scale
- Grade 0 – None – No troubled by shortness of breath on level ground or uphill.
- Grade 1 – Mild – Troubled by shortness of breath on level ground or uphill.
- Grade 2 – Moderate – Walks slower than people of the same age on the level ground or has to stop for breath on walking at own pace on the level ground.
- Grade 3 – Severe – Stops for breath after walking approximately 100 yards or for a few minutes on level ground.
- Grade 4 – Very Severe – Breathlessness at rest or breathless when dressing and undressing.