Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath medically known as Dyspnea is a medical condition in which a person suffers from tightening of chest, air hunger, difficulty in breathing and suffocation.

Feelings

It feels like if one has done a really hard work like climbing a mountain or run a sprint like one cannot take a full breath or have to breath more quickly and it becomes hard feels like if you have an oxygen deficit. If one does exercise regularly he/she may have been through this situation but if these feelings come out of the context then its an alarm and a proper medical checkup is required. It is not difficulty in breathing which is another condition.

Common Causes

Usually higher temperatures, Higher altitudes, obesity and strenuous exercises can commonly cause shortness of breath also smokers are more prone to suffer from shortness of breath. If someone is suffering from shortness of breath besides these situations then it could be caused by a medical condition.

Medical Conditions

Several medical conditions are also responsible for shortness of breath. These include:

• Pneumonia which is a viral infection of lungs causes shortness of breath.
• Heart diseases which affect proper circulation can cause it like Heart attack, cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, Arrythmias, Bradycardia, tachycardia.
• COVID-19 has the signature symptom of shortness of breath along with fatigue fever and cough
• Lung diseases like lung cancer, Pleurisy which is inflammation  of pleural membrane around lungs, pulmonary edema which is the excess fluid in lungs, fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and tuberculosis.
• Allergy like anaphylaxis, pollen allergy.
• Asthma
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)
• Heart Failure
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lungs)
• Pulmonary embolism(clot in a pulmonary artery)
• Sudden blood loss
• Airway obstruction(Blocking in air passage)
• Anemia

Risk factors

There are certain factors which makes one more susceptible to suffer shortness of breath includes

• Smoking, smokers are at high risk of it and other conditions so quit smoking.
• Respiratory conditions like COPD, asthma or cystic fibrosis.
• One with weak muscles especially involving respiration like diaphragm, intercostals etc.
• Low hemoglobin level

Alarm to see a doctor

• A winded feeling that persists
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Coughing chills and elevated body temperature
• Pain in chest
• A stridor i.e a high pitched sound that arise while breathing
• Blue lips and fingertips
• Difficulty breathing while on your back
• Fainting and nausea
• If cough doesn’t stop even after using inhaler in case of asthma

Treatment

If you or someone suffers from it be abrupt in calling us to take an appointment and we’ll be at your service and treat the condition accordingly. And first thing if one is a smoker is to quit it. And other strategies ,if there is no underlying medical condition, to cope up and reduce your symptoms like postural and lifestyle changes.