Exercise intolerance is the cardinal symptom of heart failure (HF) and is of crucial relevance,
because it is associated with a poor quality of life and increased mortality. While impaired …

Physiological ageing of the lung is associated with dilatation of alveoli, enlargement of
airspaces, decrease in exchange surface area and loss of supporting tissue for peripheral …

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle and contraction of the diaphragm is vital for
ventilation so any disease that interferes with diaphragmatic innervation, contractile muscle …

Dysfunction of one or both hemidiaphragms is an underdiagnosed cause of dyspnea.
Weakness or paralysis may be seen during mechanical ventilation, after surgery or trauma …

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterised by profound respiratory compromise secondary to
the level of loss of motor, sensory and autonomic control associated with the injury. This …

Evidence has accumulated that respiratory muscle dysfunction develops in critically ill
patients and contributes to prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation. Accordingly, it …

Chronic neuromuscular diseases may affect all major respiratory muscles groups including
inspiratory, expiratory, and bulbar, and respiratory complications are the major cause of …

Life expectancy has risen sharply during the past century and is expected to continue to rise
in virtually all populations throughout the world. In the United States population, life …

Breathing occurs without thought but is controlled by a complex neural network with a final
output of phrenic motor neurons activating diaphragm muscle fibers (ie, motor units). This …

Weaning is a critical stage of an intensive care unit (ICU) stay, in which the respiratory
muscles play a major role. Weakness of the respiratory muscles, which is associated with …