Symptoms

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Shortness of breath is a feeling like you can’t get enough air into your lungs, and you can’t do it as you do normally. You may feel as if you are not getting enough oxygen, and it gets difficult to inhale and exhale, and sometimes you might be compelled to draw a breath before you’ve even finished the last exhale.

Some symptoms that appear with shortness of breath include:

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• Tight sensation in your chest

• Feeling like you need to breathe more or breath quickly

• Feeling like your body can’t get enough oxygen in a timely manner

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You might notice yourself becoming increasingly short of breath over a long period of time, or it could happen suddenly. Sometimes, it can even strike while at rest, sitting, laying or standing. Prolonged sitting may cause shortness of breath.

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Causes

 

In most cases of shortness of breath, it happens as result of a heart or lung problem. Your heart and lungs play a major role in transporting oxygen to your tissues and carbon dioxide from them, any problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.

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Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly may be caused by one or more of the following causes, including:

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• Severe allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis)

• Asthma

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Cardiac tamponade (excess fluid around the heart)

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Heart attack

• Heart arrhythmias (heart rhythm problems)

• Heart failure

• Pneumonia or other pulmonary infections

• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in an artery in the lung)

• Sudden blood loss

• Upper airway obstruction (blockage in the breathing passage)

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Shortness of breath that lasted for weeks or more may be caused by one or more of the following causes, including:

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• Asthma

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Deconditioning

• Heart dysfunction

• Interstitial lung disease

• Obesity

• Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid around the lungs)

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Other health problems that may cause shortness of breath include:

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Heart Problems

• Cardiomyopathy (problem with heart muscle)

• Heart failure

• Pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue around the heart)

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Lung Problems

• Croup (especially in children)

• Lung cancer

• Pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs)

• Pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs)

• Pulmonary fibrosis (scarred and damaged lungs)

• Pulmonary hypertension

• Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells in the body)

• Tuberculosis

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Other Possible Causes

• Anemia

• Anxiety disorders

• Broken ribs

• First aid, while chocking

• Epiglottitis (swelling of the "lid" of your windpipe)

• First aid, when Foreign object inhaled

• Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Kyphoscoliosis (a chest wall deformity)

• Myasthenia gravis (a condition causing muscle weakness)

 

When to see your doctor

 

There are several alarming symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore, especially when accompanied by shortness of breath. These include:

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• Winded” feeling that persists even after resting for many minutes

• Swollen ankles and feet

• Coughing, chills, and higher than normal body temperature

• Wheezing or whistling sound when you inhale and exhale

• High-pitched sound when breathing

• Blue fingertips or lips

• Worsening shortness of breath after you’ve used your inhaler

• Difficulty breathing while laying

• Pain or pressure in your chest

• Nausea

• Fainting

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If you have shortness of breath along with any of the following symptoms, it’s important to call  for immediate medical care.

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Being short of breath isn’t the same thing as having trouble breathing. When you’re having difficulty breathing normally, you might feel like:

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• Can’t fully inhale or exhale

• Throat or chest are closing up or feels like there’s a squeezing sensation around them

• An obstruction, narrowing, or tightening of your airway

• Something is physically keeping you from breathing

 

Difficulty breathing is also an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

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