What is shortness of breath a symptom of

Shortness of breath (medically known as “dyspnea”) is the sensation of not being able to get enough air. It can be either acute shortness of breath (minutes to hours), chronic (days to months), or intermittent (comes and goes). It is often described as a tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, a feeling of breathlessness, or a sensation of suffocation. While there are many causes of shortness of breath, the most common causes are lung disease, heart disease, or deconditioning (lack of exercise, especially in people who are overweight or obese). It can also be seen in diseases that cause muscle weakness or disorders where fluid builds up around the lung (known as pleural effusions) or in the abdomen (known as ascites). Unexplained shortness of breath should be discussed with your physician to allow appropriate work-up to determine the cause.

Índice Show

Causes of Shortness of Breath
Shortness of Breath: An Overview
Physiology of Shortness of Breath
Putting It All Together
What is the most common cause of shortness of breath?
How do you know if shortness of breath is serious?
What are the three types of shortness of breath?
How do you know if your shortness of breath is heart related?

Key facts about Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath, or breathlessness, is discomfort or difficulty breathing. The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea.
Shortness of breath is a common symptom. It may be related to serious diseases, or it could be a result of being out of shape physically.
Your health care provider should assess whether shortness of breath is treatable with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
Serious conditions associated with shortness of breath include:
Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Heart disease (heart attack, heart failure)
Anemia
Blood clots in the lungs, also called pulmonary embolism

Causes of Shortness of Breath

Heart and lung conditions cause most cases of shortness of breath. You may feel shortness of breath for many reasons. Factors can include your overall health, medical history, and genetics. Talk to a health care provider to find out more about why you feel shortness of breath.

Acute Shortness of Breath

Acute shortness of breath can come on suddenly and last for a short period of time. Causes include:

Heart conditions:

Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia)
Increased fluid around the heart

Psychological conditions:

Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks

Chronic Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath can also be chronic, meaning it lasts for several weeks or longer. Causes include:

You may be shocked to learn that while respiratory diseases can cause shortness of breath, so can major non-respiratory diseases such as anemia, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, deconditioning, and psychological disorders. It’s important to understand all of the causes of shortness of breath to ensure that you get a proper diagnosis and undergo the appropriate treatment.

Shortness of Breath: An Overview

Physiology of Shortness of Breath

Normally, there’s a balance between the demand to breathe and ability to breathe. When there’s a balance, you have no awareness of breathing. Your body handles it for you. You feel shortness of breath when there’s an imbalance between the brain’s demand to breathe and the body’s ability to breathe.

How serious is Shortness of Breath?

In a healthy person, shortness of breath can be caused by:

Very strenuous exercise
Extreme temperatures
Bad air quality
Obesity
High altitude
Choking
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Allergic reaction (for example, following a bee sting)

If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see a doctor as soon as possible. Breathlessness may be more serious if it’s accompanied by:

Chest pain or pressure
Fainting
Nausea

Major Respiratory Diseases That Cause Shortness of Breath

Major Non-Respiratory Diseases That Cause Shortness of Breath

Putting It All Together

You just learned a lot about shortness of breath, and you may be confused by everything you just read. The following 5-minute video puts it all together so that you have a comprehensive understanding of shortness of breath in order to receive optimal treatment.

Understanding Shortness of Breath: A Summary

References

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Cardiovascular System: MeSH Descriptor Data 2021. National Library of Medicine; 2021. Updated February 28, 2018. https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?name=Cardiovascular%20System

Why Am I Short of Breath? – Donald A Mahler, MD. YouTube page. October 2, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx–Gf7hrqs&feature=emb_title

Ashton R, Raman D. Dyspnea. Cleveland Clinic. 2015. Accessed June 30, 2020. http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/pulmonary/dyspnea/

What is the most common cause of shortness of breath?

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.

How do you know if shortness of breath is serious?

Seek emergency medical care if your shortness of breath is accompanied by chest pain, fainting, nausea, a bluish tinge to lips or nails, or a change in mental alertness — as these may be signs of a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

What are the three types of shortness of breath?

They include:.

Orthopnea, when you feel short of breath when you lie down. ... .

A similar condition called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea can make you feel so short of breath that you wake up in the middle of the night. ... .

Trepopnea is a kind of dyspnea that happens when you lie on a certain side..

Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of heart failure. It is a distressing feeling that may cause you to feel smothered, Shortness of breath initially occurs with exertion but may get progressively worse and eventually occur at rest in severe cases.