What should the elderly do if they have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath?

"The elderly have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. First of all, we should make clear the cause of dyspnea, and then give targeted treatment. This is because the causes of dyspnea are different and the treatment methods are fundamentally different. For example, elderly patients may have bronchial asthma, and patients with bronchial asthma need to use short-acting bronchodilators. Commonly used drugs include salbutamol and compound ipratropium bromide, and sometimes intravenous corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone are needed. Spontaneous pneumothorax is also easy to cause dyspnea. If it is spontaneous pneumothorax, closed thoracic drainage is needed. For example, cardiac insufficiency may also lead to dyspnea, which is more common in elderly patients with cardiac insufficiency; Patients with cardiac insufficiency need diuretics and vasodilators to improve cardiac function, and some patients also need noninvasive ventilator treatment. " It is necessary to give oxygen to the elderly in time to relieve symptoms, and also go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination. According to the examination results and medical history, most of them need to take diuretic drugs and drugs to relieve cough and asthma. In the case of bacterial infection, effective antibacterial drugs are needed. If it is serious, it is best to be hospitalized. Try to keep the elderly in bed. It is best not to be emotional, and it is easy to aggravate the symptoms if you don't pay attention.