Few things instill fear and anxiety in people more than experiencing shortness of breath. Everybody knows that oxygen is needed to survive, and feeling short of it is understandably scary. Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is labored or difficult breathing. People describe the feeling in a variety of ways which include extreme tightening in the chest, feeling as though they are suffocating, feeling as though they can’t take a deep breath, or just feeling like they simply cannot get enough air. Some people experience shortness of breath frequently throughout the day while others experience it only occasionally, perhaps for a few minutes every couple of days.
Sometimes it occurs with other symptoms while other times it is the only symptom. Often, shortness of breath is a warning sign of a condition that exists in the body. Some conditions are severe enough that they warrant immediate medical attention. So it’s important to understand the cause. It’s variability in regards to how frequently and when it occurs can make is difficult to understand the cause, as there are many. Understanding what’s causing shortness of breath will help in determining how to correct this worrisome symptom. A variety of conditions can cause shortness of breath.
1. Asthma
About one in twelve people in the United States have asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs resulting in narrowing and inflammation of the airways to the lungs. The airways carry oxygen to the lungs. A person with asthma has very sensitive airways due to the narrowing and inflammation. Thus, they have a heightened reaction to irritants than someone without asthma. The most common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. Sufferers often experience symptoms in at night or early in the morning. When symptoms suddenly worsen, it’s referred to as an asthma attack.
During this time the muscles of the airways tighten, which is also called a bronchospasm, and a thicker than normal mucus is produced. The great decrease in the amount of oxygen that can pass through the airways can be so severe that death can occur. To determine if an individual has asthma, doctors evaluate a patient’s personal and medical history, conduct a physical exam, and administer lung functioning tests such as a spirometry or a peak airflow test. Asthma is commonly managed by taking medication in an inhaler or through a nebulizer as well as avoiding common triggers.
2. Obesity
About 36 percent of adults in the United States are obese. Its frequent occurrence should not downplay its possible effects which include shortness of breath, a lack of energy, excessive sweating, skin irritation, joint pain, and difficulty sleeping. Obesity increases the likelihood of having type two diabetes, some cancers, dementia, and heart disease. To be considered obese, one must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is determined by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. Great improvements in health are often seen once a person loses their excess weight.
3. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a viral or bacterial infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, fast breathing, coughing, developing a fever, shaking, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, feeling very weak, a fast heartbeat, and chest pain that worsens when coughing or when inhaling. Pneumonia is diagnosed by the doctor evaluating the symptoms and conducting a physical exam although a chest x-ray, complete blood count (CBC), and a lung mucus test may also be requested. Bacterial pneumonia is treated by taking antibiotics while viral infections are usually treated with rest at home.
4. Irregular Heartbeat
An irregular heartbeat, or an arrhythmia, occurs when the heart’s rhythm beats too fast, too slow, or in an atypical pattern. A heartbeat that moves too fast is called tachycardia while a heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia. Symptoms of arrhythmias can include shortness of breath, a fast or slow heartbeat, skipping heartbeats, chest pain, sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and fatigue. In very extreme cases, arrhythmias can cause death. Arrhythmias are diagnosed by using devices that monitor heartbeats, such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), stress tests, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Treatment can include medication, implantable devices, and surgery.
5. Cancer
Cancer is a disease that develops when the process by which cells grow and die malfunctions such that damaged cells survive and form new cells that cause growths called tumors. Tumors can be cancerous, or malignant, or they can be non-cancerous, or benign. There are over 100 types of cancers and the symptoms of each cancer vary. Shortness of breath occurs as a symptom in about 50 to 70 percent of patients. Cancer is diagnosed based on the results of a biopsy, a procedure that tests a sample of the tumor. Cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
6. Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion that is characterized as having tense feelings, worrisome thoughts, and physical changes. When anxiety becomes excessive, individuals can be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States. Anxiety symptoms include shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, sweating, trembling, insomnia, nausea, palpitation, irritability, and restlessness. There is no lab test to diagnose an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are usually determined by a physical examination and reviewing a patient’s medical history. Treatment of anxiety includes medication and psychotherapy which is a type of counseling to address emotions.
