Asthma, hay fever, and anaphylaxis: occur as an allergic reaction to an inhaled, ingested, or injected substance. Signs and symptoms are wheezing on inspiration/expiration, bronchospasms, flushed skin, hives, generalized edema, decreased blood pressure, laryngeal edema with dyspnea, runny nose, sneezing, congestion.
Spontaneous pneumothorax: partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural spaces usually as a result of trauma. Signs and symptoms are dyspnea and/or a sharp stabbing pain on one side that is worse during inspiration and expiration.
Pleural effusion: a collection of fluid outside the lung on one or both sides of the chest as a result of irritation, infection, congestive heart failure, or cancer. Is distinguished by listening to the chest with a stethoscope and hearing decreased breath sounds over the region where fluid has moved the lung away from the chest wall.
Pulmonary embolism: a blood clot formed in a vein that breaks off and circulates through the venous system which decreases or blocks blood flow and ceases the exchange of gases. Signs and symptoms are dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypoxia, cyanosis, acute chest pain, and hemoptysis
Hyperventilation: over breathing to the point where CO2 falls below normal resulting in alkalosis. Signs and symptoms of alkalosis are anxiety, dizziness, numbness, and tingling or spasms of the hands and feet
Environmental/industrial exposure: inhalation of pesticides, cleaning solutions, chemicals, chlorine, and other gases. Signs and symptoms are headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vommitting