Dyspnea is the medical term for difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. It is a symptom of many conditions that affect the respiratory system.
Shortness of breath can range from mild and temporary to serious and long lasting. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat dyspnea because there can be many different causes.
It is a common problem. Around
Dyspnea can happen due to overexertion, spending time at high altitudes, or as a symptom of several conditions.
Signs that a person is experiencing dyspnea include:
- shortness of breath after exertion
- labored breathing
- tightness in the chest
- rapid, shallow breathing
- feelings of being smothered or suffocated
- heart palpitations
- wheezing
- coughing
If dyspnea occurs suddenly or if symptoms are severe, it may be a sign of a serious medical condition.
An episode of dyspnea is not always directly related to an individual’s health. A person can feel short of breath after intense exercise when traveling to a high altitude or through major temperature changes.
However, dyspnea usually relates to health problems. Sometimes, it is just a case of inactivity, and exercise can improve symptoms. However, dyspnea can be a sign of a serious health issue.
If shortness of breath starts suddenly, it is an acute case of dyspnea.
Acute dyspnea could be due to:
- asthma
- anxiety
- pneumonia
- cardiac disease
- foreign objects obstructing airways
- allergic reactions
- anemia
- acute onset weakness such as iron deficiency
- exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide
- heart failure
- hypotension, which is low blood pressure
- pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in an artery to the lung
- collapsed lung
- hiatal hernia
- multiple sclerosis
Dyspnea is also common among people with a terminal illness. If a person experiences shortness of breath for over a month, the condition is called chronic dyspnea.
Chronic dyspnea could be due to:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- heart problems such as pericarditis or cardiomyopathy
- obesity
- interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring of the lung tissue
Lung conditions
Some additional lung conditions may also cause shortness of breath.
Examples are:
- croup
- traumatic lung injury
- lung cancer
- tuberculosis
- pleurisy, an inflammation in the tissues surrounding the lungs
- pulmonary edema, which is when too much fluid collects in the lungs
- pulmonary hypertension, which is when the blood pressure in the arteries to the lungs rises
- sarcoidosis, which is when clusters of inflammatory cells grow in the lungs
Triggers
Environmental pollutants can trigger bouts of dyspnea or make a person more likely to experience it. These include:
- smoking
- inhalation of chemicals and fumes
- living or working in dusty conditions
- living or working around mold
Dyspnea can be associated with hypoxia or hypoxemia, which is low blood oxygen levels. This can lead to a decreased level of consciousness and other severe symptoms.
If a person experiences recurrent hypoxia, there is a
Dyspnea is
A person should seek immediate medical assistance if they experience any of the following:
- sudden onset of severe dyspnea
- loss of ability to function due to shortness of breath
- chest pain
- nausea
A doctor will usually be able to diagnose dyspnea based on a complete physical examination of the person, along with a full description of their experiences.
A person will need to explain how and when their attacks of dyspnea started, how long they last, how frequently they occur, and how severe they are.
Doctors may order other diagnostic tests, including:
- X-ray scans: Doctors may use chest X-rays to evaluate the health of the person’s heart, lungs, and related systems.
- Computerized tomography scans: CT scans can produce a more detailed image of the body than X-ray scans.
- Electrocardiograms: This test may help to show any signs of a heart attack or other electrical problems in the heart.
- Spirometry tests: Spirometry tests measure the airflow and the patient’s lung capacity. This can help to pinpoint the type and the extent of an individual’s breathing problems.
Individuals with dyspnea can take measures to improve their overall health and give themselves more breathing room.
These include:
- quitting smoking
- avoiding second-hand smoke where possible
- avoiding other environmental triggers such as chemical fumes and wood smoke
- exercising to strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
- take time adjusting to higher altitudes
Dyspnea can affect specific groups of people in different ways:
- Pregnant people: Mild symptoms of dyspnea are common during pregnancy. This is because pregnancy alters a person’s breathing capacity.
- Older adults: Dyspnea is common among older adults. One Canadian study found that 1 in 5 older adults experienced dyspnea symptoms when climbing stairs or walking uphill.
- Infants: Diseases of the upper respiratory system that cause acute dyspnea are
one of the most common causes of shortness of breath in infants.
The outlook for people with dyspnea depends on the cause.
If the underlying condition can be successfully treated and improved, such as pneumonia or non-severe asthma, then breathing problems may be eliminated or greatly reduced.
However, if shortness of breath is due to serious or chronic diseases that worsen over time, such as chronic heart failure, severe asthma, or COPD, improvement may be limited.
Patients with dyspnea need to work with their healthcare professional to develop and follow a comprehensive treatment plan.