REASON YOU ARE SHORT OF BREATH

REASON YOU ARE SHORT OF BREATH

Asthma
Your airways suddenly narrow and swell. You may
struggle for air, cough up mucus, or hear whistling
when you breathe.
It’s not clear why this happens to some people, but
lots of things could trigger an attack, including pollen,
dust, smoke, exercise, freezing air, a cold, and stress.
Your doctor can help you figure out what causes
yours. They might prescribe medication for you to
inhale during an attack to help you breathe more
easily.

Allergies
Pollen, dust, pet dander, and other things you
breathe in can cause allergies.
Sometimes the allergic reaction causes asthma.
But it’s not always something in the air. It could
start with something you touch, or some food you
eat.
Talk with your doctor about how best to manage
your asthma and allergies. Make sure to check in
when your symptoms change, too.

Anxiety
You may breathe harder when you’re
scared or worried. It’s usually not a big
deal, but it can be serious if you already
have lung problems like COPD. Sudden
stress, like a car accident, could trigger an
attack if you have asthma.
Even if you’re otherwise healthy, anxiety
might cause you to breathe fast enough to
get lightheaded and pass out.

Carbon Monoxide
It’s a colorless, odorless gas that can come
from furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters, dryers,
and car fumes. If it isn’t sent out the right way, it
can build up in the air, and you could breathe
too much of it. That makes it hard for your red
blood cells to send oxygen through your body.
You may be short of breath, dizzy, confused,
weak, and nauseated. Your vision could blur,
and you could pass out. It could be lifethreatening.

A Cold
It happens thanks to a virus that causes a
runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes fever.
It may irritate your lungs and airway, and
bring a cough that can make it hard to
breathe.
There’s no cure, but it usually gets better on
its own in a week or so. See your doctor if
you have a fever higher than 102 F, if you’re
wheezing, or if it’s hard to catch your breath.

Pulmonary Embolism
A blockage, or clot, often in your leg, breaks loose,
and a piece goes to your lung and blocks blood flow.
That can make it hard or painful to breathe. You
could feel faint, and your heart might race. Some
people cough up blood. You may have swelling,
warmth, and soreness where the clot started.
If any of this happens to you, get to the hospital, as
it can be life-threatening. Your doctor may use blood
thinners, other drugs, or surgery.

Sleep Apnea
It’s a condition when breathing stops repeatedly
during sleep, so a person may not realize
anything is happening. But you might be tired,
groggy, and moody the next day. It could lead to
high blood pressure and make you more likely to
have heart disease and a stroke.
Extra weight is a risk. It may help to lose weight,
but not all people with sleep apnea are
overweight.

Pneumonia
A virus, bacteria, or fungus infects the air sacs inside
your lungs. Then those sacs fill with fluid. This
makes it harder to breathe. You also could have
chills and fever, and you might cough up a thick,
colored mucus.
Check in regularly with your doctor. They might
prescribe antibiotics if your pneumonia is caused by
bacteria. Other types are harder to treat, but rest,
fluids, and over-the-counter meds can make you feel
better.

COPD
Some people call it “chronic bronchitis” or emphysema.
Smoking causes it most often. It stretches out the air sacs
in your lungs, making it hard for the lungs to move air.
This makes it tougher to breathe. You might feel tightness
in your chest and have a cough, sometimes with
wheezing, that doesn’t go away.
Your doctor can help you manage this serious condition.
If you smoke, the most important step you can take is to
quit smoking.

Heart Failure
It doesn’t mean your heart has “failed,” just that
it’s not as strong at pumping blood as it should
be. That makes it harder to get oxygen where it
needs to go. Blood backs up in your lungs. That
can make you short of breath.
Simple things -- when you climb stairs, walk a
long way, or carry groceries -- might tire you
out.
Your doctor can help you manage your
symptoms.

Anemia
When your body doesn’t have enough healthy red
blood cells, you can’t get enough oxygen to your
tissues. That can make you weak and tired, and
sometimes short of breath. It can also make you
dizzy and pale, with cold hands and feet, and a fast
heartbeat.
Lots of things cause it, so treatment depends on
what’s causing yours. Talk to your doctor if you’re
tired and can’t figure out why.

A Collapsed Lung
Doctors sometimes call it pneumothorax. It
happens when an injury or disease causes air to
leak from your lungs to the space between your
lungs and the wall of your chest. The air pushes
on the lung, making it fold in on itself.
You could have chest pain and be short of breath.
Your doctor may put a needle or small tube into
the area to remove the air, or you may need
surgery. But if it’s minor, it might get better on its
own.

Crying or Being Scared
Kids between 6 months and 6 years of age can
sometimes have moments when they stop
breathing while crying or when they become
startled. This sometimes triggers a “cyanotic spell,”
an uncontrolled response that makes them faint.
The child may turn blue and pass out for about a
minute. They could seem groggy afterward. Though
it can be scary at first, it’s nothing to worry about,
and it might happen again and again.

Myasthenia Gravis
It’s a “neuromuscular” disease that makes it harder
for muscles and nerves to talk to each other. You
might notice weakness when you move your arms
and legs. It can also affect automatic movements
like breathing. The disease could change the way
you chew, swallow, blink, and smile. It’s usually
worse if you exert yourself and better after you
rest.
Your doctor can help you manage your symptoms.
In some cases, people go into remission.

A Broken Heart
It’s a real thing. There’s even a name for it:
broken heart syndrome. Sudden, intense
emotion -- a lost loved one or ended romance,
for example -- affects the heart, causing sharp
chest pain and making it hard to breathe. The
heart doesn’t pump as well for a while.
Unlike a heart attack, it doesn’t happen
because your arteries are blocked. Most people
get better within a few days or weeks.