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Health & Fitness

Neuromuscular disease

medicine, health, treatment, disease

Current hypotheses on the origin of dyspnea emphasize the importance of respiratory muscle effort that reflects central motor command. However, the role of the central mismatching between respiratory muscle effort and instantaneous feedback from sensory receptors throughout the respiratory system in the perception of dyspnea has also been emphasized. This theory has its mechanical basis in the disparity between the respiratory motor output and the mechanical response of the system. Patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) exhibit a heightened neuromotor output. The latter is sensed as an increased respiratory muscle effort and as such is likely to be the principal mechanism of dyspnea in patients with uncomplicated NMD. Alternatively, the association of an increased respiratory system impedance with respiratory muscle weakness increases the respiratory muscle load and may affect the coupling between respiratory effort and volume; therefore, a greater-than-normal dyspnea sensation might be expected. However, to our knowledge, no study has been addressed at evaluating the interrelationships among pulmonary mechanics, respiratory motor output, and the perception of dyspnea in patients with NMD.  website

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