Short Breathing Problem

When an individual has a short breathing problem or difficulty in breathing, he feels that he is not getting enough air and may have a feeling of tightness in the chest. This condition is also known as dyspnea or dyspnoea, which is an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience. People who suffer from some kind of respiratory impairment often complain of this breathing problem.

Feeling short of breath suddenly is also a symptom for many underlying medical disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Mild breathing problems can result from a blocked or stuffy nose, and undergoing strenuous exercises. The signs and symptoms are not that noticeable or measurable but are only experienced by the individual himself. Sometimes breathlessness followed by an acute pain in the chest can also be a symptom of a heart attack.

A sensation of tightness in the chest and shortness of breath are often closely associated and caused due to many reasons. Breathlessness can be triggered due to the following factors;

• Asthma
• Injury to the lungs, neck or wall of the chest

• Heart problems like irregular heart beats or heart palpitations and pericardial effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac of the heart, due to certain types of cancers
• Congestive heart failure
• Disorders of the lungs or an infection in the chest, like pneumonia or chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which is caused due to smoking

• Pleural effusion or accumulation of fluids in the lungs caused due to a tumor or infection
• Pulmonary embolism or blood clot in lungs
• Very low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Pulmonary fibrosis or damage to the lungs caused due to radiation or chemotherapy
• Upper respiratory infection (URI) caused due to a bacterial or viral infection

• Asphyxiation (or choking) caused due to inhaling smoke
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Reaction to certain medication like aspirin, opiates, ibuprofen and acetaminophen
• Lack of oxygen in the brain

• A life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock syndrome
• Some other uncommon reasons for this respiratory problem are formation of scar tissue in the lungs as a result of an injury, a collapsed lung (or pneumothorax) due to tumors or trauma like car accidents or a gunshot wound, and lung cancer etc.

An individual who is unable to breathe freely and suffers, due to a lack of oxygen shows the following symptoms;

• Tightness in the chest and pressure in the surrounding region
• Chest pain, accompanied by cough

• Discoloration or cyanosis (appearance of a bluish color) of the face, wrists and palms of the hands and the chest. Sometimes the whites of the eyes and lips may also turn blue due to this condition

• Severe headache and fever followed by chills
• Experiencing a feeling of breathlessness while walking, standing and even sitting
• Difficulty in speaking
• Wheezing or a screeching sound while breathing
• Becoming overtly tired and fatigued even after doing small chores
• Experiencing breathlessness while lying down

In order to diagnose the cause of shortness of breath, the doctor may advice the patient to take a chest X-ray, apart from a physical exam. The individual may also have to undergo a variety of tests like a blood test (to determine the level of oxygen in the blood), electrocardiogram (ECG) and a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Once the diagnosis is done and the cause is found out, the doctor may prescribe oral medication and inhalers to clear the air passage.

In case of serious health issues, symptomatic treatment is administered by the doctor. In case of severe breathlessness, hospitalization may be required till the disorder absolves itself. Consumption of alcohol and smoking should be completely stopped as both are injurious to health and may lead to several complications. Lastly, in order to boost your immune system, eat a healthy meal everyday, consume lots of fluids and take multivitamin supplements.

If you are experiencing a short breathing problem, you must consult a physician who may identify the exact cause of your breathing problem and prescribe the appropriate medicines to cure this condition. Take care!