8 Reasons You’re Short of Breath

Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Shortness of breath — known medically as dyspnea — is often described as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger or a feeling of suffocation.

Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly (called acute) has a limited number of causes, including: asthma, heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, sudden blood loss, carbon monoxide poisoning or low blood pressure.

In the case of shortness of breath that has lasted for weeks or longer (called chronic), the condition is most often due to: asthma, COPD, heart dysfunction, obesity, deconditioning or interstitial lung disease.  If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see your doctor as soon as possible. Check out the possible reasons!

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Reddit
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

READ NEXT

8 Foods to Eat When You Have a Cold

A common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection which is caused by different viruses. This cold is transmitted by infected airborne droplets or by direct contact with infected secretions.

How Blood Sugar Levels Affect Your Health

Understanding blood glucose level ranges can be a key part of diabetes self-management. When you have diabetes, your blood sugar (aka blood glucose) levels may be consistently high. Over time,

6 Reasons Why You’re Over-Sweating After 40

As we already know, sweating happens after making physical efforts, being stressed or standing in the heat – but why does it happen after 40 years old? Well, menopause can

5 Unexpected Benefits of Drinking Hot Water

Recent research revealed that drinking hot water on an empty stomach provides numerous health benefits. Lemon-infused water, for example, reduces free radicals and helps different organs function properly. Studies say

10 Things About Depression Only Psychologists Know

Depression is a mental illness characterized by frequent states of sadness, lack of appetite, feeling guilty all the time, and other symptoms like these. We debunk the myths and misinformation about

10 Vaccine Myths You Should Completely Ignore

Unfortunately, even when a large number of studies have found no evidence to support the argument that vaccines can cause autism and other chronic illnesses, many parents are simply refusing

15 Signs of Diabetes to Watch Out For

While diabetes is manageable, it can shorten your life considerably. It can also up your risk of things like blindness, heart attack, and even loss of a foot. Check out

These Factors Are Associated With Dementia Risk

Modifiable risk factors can be addressed through the means of early intervention to reduce chances of developing dementia during old age. By studying data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS),

6 Subtle Signs You Could Have PTSD

When looking at the various ways people attempt to cope with exposure to one or a series of traumatic events, it’s important to recognize the ways that they may manifest,

Early Symptoms of a Heart Attack You Should Know

The sooner you get help for a heart attack, the better your chances for a complete recovery. Unfortunately, many people hesitate to get help, even if they suspect there’s something

Scroll to Top