Lung Condition Symptoms: Shortness of Breath

It can be terrifying to experience shortness of breath for the first time. You may not know what’s happening or whether it’s due to a genuine medical condition. Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, occurs for various reasons; another reason why going through an episode is anxiety-ridden and confusing. Millions of people experience this daily due to typical, non-emergency reasons, but then there are the reasons for not being able to breathe properly that need to be taken seriously. Dyspnea is that feeling when your chest is considerably tight, and you aren’t able to take a full, deep breath – that can be a sign of alarm. Getting checked out by a physician is the only way you can know if your inability to breathe right is a cause for concern. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this symptom.

Individuals describe shortness of breath symptoms in many different ways. Even if two people with the same dyspnea symptoms go to the doctor, they are likely to report their feelings using distinct vocabulary and phrases. This is why we compiled a list of examples. Perhaps one or more resonate with you.

• Tight sensation in the chest
• Not able to take in a full breath
• Not able to breathe deeply
• Not able to inhale or exhale fully
• Difficulty breathing even when resting
• Not able to get enough air in
• Difficulty breathing after short activities 
• Feeling breathless
• Feeling as if it is more work than usual to catch your breath
• Rapid, shallow breathing 

Each of these is similar, yet they describe the feeling of dyspnea in various ways. If one of these seems like something you are going through, seek medical care soon to figure out the underlying cause. Please don’t wait while thinking your symptoms are typical for your age, abilities, or other diagnoses. Simply make sure you stay healthy.

While shortness of breath can pop up due to an underlying condition, there are groups of people more at-risk for developing this symptom. 

Individuals are more likely to experience shortness of breath if they have asthma, smoke regularly, already have heart or lung conditions, suffer from anxiety (think panic attacks), are severely under or overweight, or simply have poor overall physical fitness. 

Some of these risk factors can change due to lifestyle adjustments. If you are a chronic smoker and can’t breathe, it might be best to re-think that behavior. If you aren’t a healthy weight and have frequent chest tightness, speak to a nutritionist about how to get back on track. There are several things individuals with cheat tightness can do to alleviate the situation. 

However, with that said, it is still always best to see a physician to make sure there are no other, more serious causes for the symptom. 

The Mayo Clinic, the ultimate overall health expert, shares a list of acute (comes on suddenly) and chronic (frequently occurs over a period of time) causes of shortness of breath. 

Acute Causes:

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Cardiac tamponade (excess fluid around the heart)
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) worsening of symptoms 
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Heart attack
• Heart arrhythmia (heart rhythm problems)
• Heart failure
• Pneumonia (and 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)

Chronic Causes:

• Asthma
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) worsening of symptoms 
• Deconditioning
• Heart dysfunction
• Interstitial lung disease
• Obesity
• Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid around the lungs)

This is a fairly significant list of causes for shortness of breath. If you have one of these conditions or suspect you might, seek treatment and start feeling better regarding this symptom. 

Depending on the cause of the shortness of breath, doctors have a few medical interventions available. 

Medication therapy, such as using steroids, bronchodilators, and pain medications, can ease some of the tightness and open those airways back up. 

Relaxation and breathing exercises help, especially once anxiety kicks in. “Abdominal” breathing and “pursed-lip” breathing are helpful methods. 

Lastly, there are surgical options. These are considered in severe cases for certain conditions. 

No matter what, there is a form of treatment for everyone who experiences shortness of breath. 

Too many of us ignore the signs our bodies give us, including shortness of breath. We write it off as aging, being out-of-shape, or not having enough time to care for ourselves. The truth is, no matter how long you’ve been experiencing shortness of breath, it’s always important to get it checked out by a medical professional. If you find yourself struggling to breathe or relating to any other symptoms mentioned above, don’t hesitate to seek help from a pulmonologist, such as Gwinnett Pulmonary and Sleep. The physicians there will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and get you started on the road to treatment so that you can get back to living your life.