Mechanisms underlying the sensation of dyspnea

Dyspnea is defined as a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity. It is a common symptom among patients with respiratory diseases that reduces daily activities, induces deconditioning, and is self-perpetuating. Although clinical interventions are needed to reduce dyspnea, its underlying mechanism is poorly understood depending on the intertwined peripheral and central neural mechanisms as well as emotional factors. Nonetheless, experimental and clinical observations suggest that dyspnea results from dissociation or a mismatch between the intended respiratory motor output set caused by the respiratory neuronal network in the lower brainstem and the ventilatory output accomplished. The brain regions responsible for detecting the mismatch between the two are not established. The mechanism underlying the transmission of neural signals for dyspnea to higher sensory brain centers is not known. Further, information from central and peripheral chemoreceptors that control the milieu of body fluids is summated at higher brain centers, which modify dyspneic sensations. The mental status also affects the sensitivity to and the threshold of dyspnea perception. The currently used methods for relieving dyspnea are not necessarily fully effective. The search for more effective therapy requires further insights into the pathophysiology of dyspnea.