Probably almost everyone knows the feeling of lack of air when the elevator stops working, but you have to go up to the ninth floor, or when you are running after the bus because you are late for work... However, breathing problems can arise even at rest. What are the symptoms and causes of shortness of breath? What to do if there is not enough air?
Why is there not enough air when breathing?
Difficulty breathing, called shortness of breath or dyspnea, has many causes, affecting the airways, lungs, and heart. Shortness of breath can be caused by various factors - for example, increased physical activity, stress, and respiratory diseases. If your breathing can be described as rapid and noisy, the depth of inhalation and exhalation periodically changes, if at times there is a feeling of lack of air, then it is necessary to understand the situation, since such symptoms can be dangerous to health and indicate serious illnesses.
The most common causes of shortness of breath are:
- Unhealthy Lifestyle;
- poorly ventilated area;
- pulmonary diseases;
- heart diseases;
- psychosomatic disorders (for example, vegetative-vascular dystonia);
- chest injuries.
Let's look at each of the reasons in more detail.
Shortness of breath due to lifestyle
If you don't have heart or lung disease, your breathing difficulty may be due to a lack of activity. Here are some tips to prevent shortness of breath symptoms.
- When shortness of breath occurs during physical activity, such as running or walking for a long time, it indicates a lack of physical fitness or excess weight. Try to exercise and reconsider your diet - if there is a lack of nutrients, shortness of breath is also not uncommon.
- Shortness of breath is a common occurrence among smokers, since the respiratory system is extremely vulnerable when smoking. In this case, it is possible to breathe deeply, only by extorting bad habit. Doctors also recommend taking an X-ray of the lungs once a year, regardless of whether there are health problems or not.
- Frequent drinking of alcohol can also cause shortness of breath, since alcohol negatively affects the cardiovascular system and increases the likelihood of a heart attack, heart rhythm disturbances and other diseases.
- The possibility of shortness of breath should not be excluded during emotional turmoil or frequent stress. For example, panic attacks are accompanied by the release of adrenaline into the blood, after which the tissues require more oxygen and the person suffocates. Frequent yawning also indicates health problems - it is a sign of brain hypoxia.
Shortness of breath due to poorly ventilated areas
As you know, in a living room - a constant companion bad mood and headaches. However, an excess of carbon dioxide also has more serious consequences - fainting, deterioration of memory and concentration, sleep disturbances and constant lack of air. To work productively, you need a constant flow of air from the street. that it can be difficult to regularly ventilate the house: in winter, for example, too cold air enters through an open window, so there is a chance of getting sick. Noise from the street or insufficiently clean air on the other side of the window can also interfere with your comfortable well-being. The best solution in this situation would be with air purification and heating systems. It is also worth mentioning, with which you can remotely control climate control devices and measure CO2 levels, temperature and air humidity.
Shortness of breath due to lung dysfunction
Very often, lack of air is associated with pulmonary diseases. People with impaired lung function experience severe shortness of breath during exercise. During physical exercise the body releases more and consumes more oxygen. The respiratory center in the brain speeds up breathing when blood oxygen levels are low or carbon dioxide levels are high. If the lungs are not functioning normally, even a small effort can significantly increase the breathing rate. Shortness of breath can be so unpleasant that patients specifically avoid any physical activity. In case of serious pulmonary pathologies, air deficiency occurs even at rest.
Shortness of breath may result from:
- restrictive (or restrictive) breathing disorders - the lungs cannot fully expand when breathing, therefore, their volume decreases, and a sufficient amount of oxygen does not reach the tissues;
- obstructive breathing disorders - for example, . With such diseases, the airways narrow and require significant effort to expand when breathing. For asthmatics who experience shortness of breath during an attack, doctors usually advise keeping an inhaler handy.
Shortness of breath due to heart disease
One of the common heart disorders that negatively affects the depth and intensity of breathing is heart failure. The heart supplies blood to organs and tissues. If the heart does not transport enough blood (i.e., heart failure), fluid accumulates in the lungs, gas exchange is impaired, and a disorder called pulmonary edema occurs. Pulmonary edema causes shortness of breath, which is often accompanied by a feeling of suffocation or heaviness in the chest.
Some people with heart failure experience orthopnea and/or paroxysmal nocturnal shortness of breath. Orthopnea is shortness of breath that occurs when lying down. People with this disorder are forced to sleep sitting up. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a sudden severe shortness of breath that occurs during sleep and is accompanied by the patient awakening. This disorder is an extreme form of orthopnea. Also, paroxysmal nocturnal shortness of breath is a sign of severe heart failure.
Shortness of breath can occur with a sharp increase in blood pressure if you are hypertensive. High blood pressure leads to overload of the heart, disruption of its functions and a feeling of lack of oxygen. The causes of shortness of breath can also be tachycardia, myocardial infarction, ischemic disease heart and other cardiovascular pathologies. In any case, an accurate diagnosis can only be made and appropriate treatment prescribed. experienced doctor.
Shortness of breath due to anemia (anemia)
When anemia occurs, a person has a decreased level of hemoglobin and a decreased number of red blood cells. Since hemoglobin and red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, when they are deficient, the amount of oxygen supplied by the blood decreases. Patients feel a particularly acute lack of air during physical activity, because the blood cannot deliver the increased level of oxygen needed by the body. In addition to shortness of breath, symptoms include headache, loss of strength, problems with concentration and memory. The main way get rid of lack of air during anemia - eliminate the root cause, i.e. restore the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood.
Dyspnea with vegetative-vascular dystonia
Vegetovascular dystonia is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. Typically, patients complain of a feeling of a lump in the throat, rapid breathing, and a feeling of lack of air. Respiratory disorders intensify in conditions that require stress on the nervous system: passing an exam, interview, speaking in public, etc. The causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia can be excessive mental, physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, and chronic diseases.
One of the most common manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia is hyperventilation syndrome, which leads to “excessive breathing.” Many people mistakenly believe that hyperventilation is a lack of oxygen. In fact, hyperventilation syndrome is a lack of carbon dioxide in the blood. When a person with this syndrome breathes too quickly, they exhale more carbon dioxide than necessary. A decrease in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood leads to the fact that hemoglobin strongly combines with oxygen and the latter has difficulty entering the tissues. For severe symptoms of shortness of breath, doctors recommend breathing into a bag tightly pressed to your mouth. The exhaled air will accumulate in the bag, and by inhaling it again, the patient will replenish the CO2 deficiency.
Other diseases
A violation of the integrity of the chest can cause shortness of breath. With various injuries (for example, fractured ribs), a feeling of lack of air occurs due to pronounced pain in the chest. Difficulty breathing can also be caused by other ailments, such as diabetes or allergies. In this case, a comprehensive examination and treatment by a specialized specialist is required. Getting rid of breathing problems is only possible if the source of the disease is neutralized.
As we found out, the method of getting rid of shortness of breath depends entirely on its cause. Each of the diseases that can cause difficulty breathing requires individual approach, passing certain tests and undergoing various examinations. If you feel that, in addition to shortness of breath, something else is bothering you, then therapy should be prescribed by a doctor and only a doctor - no need to self-medicate! If an attack of shortness of breath takes you by surprise, you should stop any physical activity. If the condition lasts more than 10 minutes, you must call ambulance.
Shortness of breath is a feeling of lack of air, due to which there is a need to increase breathing. This is one of the most common complaints patients have when visiting a general practitioner or therapist.
It is a common sign of disease in various organs and systems of the human body - respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous.
Shortness of breath is accompanied by:
- infectious diseases
- various types of intoxication
- neuromuscular inflammatory processes
- but it can also occur in completely healthy overweight people with detraining of the body - sedentary lifestyle, obesity
- in persons with a labile nervous system as a psycho-emotional reaction to stress
- for metabolic disorders, blood diseases, oncology
This symptom can be both pathological compensatory and physiological in nature, and its severity often does not correspond to the degree of pathological disorders in the body. Multifactoriality and low specificity in many cases make it difficult to use for diagnosis or assessment of the severity of a particular disease. However, a detailed and multi-stage examination of the patient to determine the cause of shortness of breath is mandatory.
What is shortness of breath?
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea (breathing disorder) can be accompanied by objective respiratory disturbances (depth, frequency, rhythm) or only by subjective sensations.
According to the definition of academician B.E. Votchal, shortness of breath is, first of all, a patient’s sensation that forces him to limit physical activity or increase breathing.
If breathing disorders do not cause any sensations, then this term is not used, and we can only talk about assessing the nature of the disorder, that is, breathing is labored, shallow, irregular, excessively deep, intensified. However, this does not make the suffering and psychological reaction of the patient any less real.
The definition of dyspnea proposed by the US Thoracic Society is currently accepted. According to it, shortness of breath is a reflection of the patient’s subjective perception of respiratory discomfort and includes various qualitative sensations varying in intensity. Its development can cause secondary physiological and behavioral reactions and be determined by the interaction of psychological, physiological, social and environmental factors. The following degrees of shortness of breath are distinguished:
| No shortness of breath | Shortness of breath on exertion occurs only during severe physical exertion (playing sports, lifting weights up stairs, jogging, long swimming), then breathing quickly recovers |
| Mild shortness of breath | The occurrence of shortness of breath when walking quickly, climbing stairs for a long time, or uphill |
| Average | Due to difficulty breathing, a person is forced to walk more slowly, sometimes stopping while walking to catch his breath |
| Heavy | When walking, the patient stops every few minutes, that is, he walks no more than 100 meters and stops in order to restore breathing |
| Very heavy | Shortness of breath occurs even at rest or with the slightest movement or physical activity, the patient usually does not leave the house |
The following example demonstrates a more complete understanding of shortness of breath.
- The normal number of breaths in a healthy person at rest is 14–20 per minute.
- In a person who is unconscious due to any disease, it may be irregular, exceed the norm in frequency, or be significantly less frequent. This condition is regarded as a breathing disorder, but is not called shortness of breath.
- Shortness of breath is also considered a condition (which cannot be measured by any methods) - the presence of patient complaints about a feeling of lack of air when normal indicators breathing frequency and rhythm, and shortness of breath occurs only with an increase in the depth of inhalation.
Thus, the accepted definition, as well as the definition of Academician B.E. Votchal, considers this symptom as a psychological subjective perception, awareness of physiological or pathological stimuli and changes in the body.
A person describes shortness of breath, like pain, with a variety of colorful emotional expressions:
- feeling of suffocation
- lack of air
- feeling of chest fullness
- feeling of lack of air in the lungs
- "chest fatigue"
Shortness of breath can be both physiological, “safe” - a normal reaction of the body, and pathological, since it is one of the symptoms of a number of diseases:
Physiological changes in breathing that quickly return to normal
- during running, sports exercises in gym, swimming in the pool
- quickly climbing stairs
- when performing heavy physical activity
- with a pronounced emotional reaction in a healthy body (anxiety, stress, fear)
Pathological reactions that occur in diseases
Shortness of breath during exertion occurs even with low intensity and slight exertion. The cause of shortness of breath when walking is diseases of the lungs, heart, anemia, diseases of the endocrine system, nervous system, etc.
Mechanisms of symptom formation
Unfortunately, very often many doctors associate the mechanism of occurrence and development of shortness of breath only with:
- obstruction (obstruction) of the airways at a distance from the vocal cords in the larynx to the alveoli
- with heart failure leading to congestion in the lungs.
Based on these (often erroneous) conclusions, a plan for further instrumental and laboratory diagnostic examinations and treatment is drawn up.
However, the pathogenesis of shortness of breath is much more complex, and there are many more reasons for it. There are many assumptions about the development of shortness of breath. The most convincing theory is based on the idea that the brain perceives and analyzes impulses that enter it as a result of a discrepancy between the stretch and tension of the respiratory muscles.
The degree of irritation of the nerve endings that control muscle tension and transmit signals to the brain does not correspond to the length of these muscles. It is assumed that it is precisely this discrepancy that causes a person to feel that the inhalation being taken is too small in comparison with the tension of the respiratory muscle group. Impulses from the nerve endings of the respiratory tract or lung tissue enter the central nervous system via the vagus nerve. nervous system and form a conscious or subconscious feeling of breathing discomfort, that is, a feeling of shortness of breath.
The described scheme gives general idea about the formation of dyspnea. It is suitable only for partial justification, for example, of the cause of shortness of breath when walking or other physical activity, since in this case the irritation of chemoreceptors by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood is also important.
A large number of causes and variants of pathogenesis are due to the variety of physiological processes and anatomical structural units that ensure normal breathing. One or another mechanism always prevails, depending on the situation that provoked it. For example, it can occur due to irritation of the receptors of the larynx or trachea, medium and small bronchi, respiratory muscles, all at the same time, etc. However, the principles of implementation and mechanisms for the occurrence of shortness of breath under different circumstances are the same.
So, shortness of breath is characterized by awareness of excessive activation of the brain by impulses from the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata. It, in turn, is brought into an active state by ascending signals arising as a result of irritation of peripheral receptors in various structures of the body and transmitted through nerve pathways. The stronger the irritants and respiratory dysfunction, the more severe the shortness of breath.
Pathological impulses can come from:
- The centers themselves are in the cerebral cortex.
- Baroreceptors and mechanoreceptors of the respiratory muscles and other muscles or joints.
- Chemoreceptors that respond to changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide and are located in the carotid bodies of the carotid arteries, aorta, brain and other parts of the circulatory system.
- Receptors that respond to changes in the acid-base state of the blood.
- Intrathoracic endings of the vagus and phrenic nerves.
Examination methods
To prove the presence of shortness of breath and establish its causes, additional methods of instrumental and laboratory research help, to some extent. These are:
- special questionnaires with a multi-point system of answering questions;
- spirometry, which measures the volume and speed of inhalation and exhalation of air;
- pneumotachography, which allows you to record the volumetric velocity of air flow during quiet and forced breathing;
- testing using dosed physical activity on a bicycle ergometer or on a treadmill;
- carrying out tests with drugs that cause narrowing of the bronchi;
- determination of blood oxygen saturation using a simple pulse oximeter device;
- laboratory study of the gas composition and acid-base state of the blood, etc.
Clinical classification of types of shortness of breath
In practical medicine, despite the nonspecificity of shortness of breath, it is still considered in combination with other symptoms as a diagnostic and prognostic sign for various pathological conditions and processes. There are many classifications of variants of this symptom, indicating a connection with a specific group of diseases. In many pathological conditions, according to the main indicators, it has a mixed development mechanism. For practical purposes, shortness of breath is divided into four main types:
- Central
- Pulmonary
- Heartfelt
- Hematogenous
Dyspnea of central origin - with neurology or brain tumors
It differs from all others in that it itself is the cause of disturbances in gas exchange processes, while other types of shortness of breath arise as a result of already impaired gas exchange and are compensatory in nature. Gas exchange during central dyspnea is disrupted due to pathological depth of breathing, frequency or rhythm that is not adequate to metabolic needs. Such central disturbances may occur:
- as a result of overdose of narcotic or sleeping pills
- for tumors of the spinal cord or brain
- neuroses
- pronounced psycho-emotional and depressive states
In psychoneurotic disorders, complaints of shortness of breath are usually made by 75% of patients being treated in the clinic for neurotic conditions and pseudoneuroses; these are people who react acutely to stress, are very easily excitable, and hypochondriacs. A feature of psychogenic breathing disorders is considered to be noise accompaniment - frequent groaning, heavy sighs, groans.
- such people experience a constant or periodic feeling of lack of air, the presence of an obstruction in the larynx or in the upper parts of the chest
- the need for additional inspiration and the impossibility of its implementation “breathing corset”
- they try to open all the doors and windows or run out into the street “for air”
- Such patients feel in the absence of pathology, are confident in the presence of heart failure and experience the fear of death from suffocation with indifference to the presence of other diseases.
These disorders are accompanied by an unreasonable increase in the frequency or depth of breathing, which does not provide relief, and the inability to hold the breath. Sometimes false attacks of bronchial asthma or laryngeal stenosis occur after any experiences or conflicts, causing confusion even for experienced doctors.
Central shortness of breath can manifest itself in various ways:
Tachypnea
Tachyponoe is a sharp increase in respiratory rate to 40 - 80 or more per minute, which leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide in the blood and, as a result:
- to weakness
- dizziness
- decrease)
- loss of consciousness
Tachypnea can occur with pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, peritonitis, acute cholecystitis, neuroses, especially with hysteria, muscle disorders, high temperature, flatulence and other conditions.
Bradypnea
Deep, but rare, less than 12 breaths per minute, which occurs when air transport through the upper respiratory tract is difficult. This type of shortness of breath occurs:
- when using drugs
- brain tumors
- Pickwick's syndrome
when breathing during sleep is accompanied by a stop for up to 10 seconds or more, after which tachypnea occurs upon full awakening.
Dysrhythmia
Violation of the breathing rhythm in amplitude and frequency.
- It occurs, for example, with aortic valve insufficiency, when when the left ventricle of the heart contracts, an increased volume of blood enters the aortic arch, and therefore the brain, and when the ventricle relaxes, a sharp reverse outflow of blood occurs due to the absence of an obstacle, that is, the presence of a deformed valve aorta.
- This is especially pronounced during psycho-emotional stress, which causes “respiratory panic” and fear of death.
Shortness of breath due to heart failure
One of the main symptoms of heart disease is shortness of breath. Most often the reason is high pressure in the vessels of the heart. At first (in the early stages), patients with heart failure experience a kind of “lack of air” only during physical exertion; as the disease progresses, shortness of breath begins to bother them even with slight exertion, and then at rest.
Dyspnea in heart failure has a mixed mechanism, in which the predominant role belongs to the stimulation of the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata by impulses from the volume and baroreceptors of the vascular bed. They, in turn, are caused mainly by circulatory failure and stagnation of blood in the pulmonary veins, increased blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation. Also important is the violation of the diffusion of gases in the lungs, the violation of elasticity and compliance to stretching of the lung tissue, and a decrease in the excitability of the respiratory center.
Shortness of breath in heart failure is characterized by:
Polypnea
when an increase in gas exchange is achieved through deeper and more frequent breathing at the same time. These parameters depend on the increasing load on the left side of the heart and the pulmonary circulation (in the lungs). Polypnea in heart disease is mainly provoked by even minor physical activity (climbing stairs); it can occur at high temperatures, pregnancy, when changing the vertical position of the body to horizontal, when bending the body, and heart rhythm disturbances.
Orthopnea
This is a condition in which the patient is forced to be (even sleep) in an upright position. This leads to the outflow of blood to the legs and lower half of the body, unloading the pulmonary circulation and leading to easier breathing.
Cardiac asthma
Nocturnal paroxysm of shortness of breath, or cardiac asthma, which is the development of pulmonary edema. Shortness of breath is accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, dry or wet (with foamy sputum) cough, weakness, sweating, and fear of death.
Pulmonary dyspnea
It is provoked by a violation of respiratory mechanics due to bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, dysfunction of the diaphragm, and significant curvature of the spine (kyphoscoliosis). The pulmonary variant of shortness of breath is divided into:
Inspiratory dyspnea - difficulty breathing
With this type of shortness of breath, all auxiliary muscles take part in the act of inhalation. It occurs:
- with difficulty breathing in case of loss of elasticity of the lung tissue due to pneumosclerosis, fibrosis, pleurisy, widespread pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer
- coarse pleural deposits and carcinomatosis
- high position of the diaphragm due to pregnancy
- phrenic nerve palsy due to ankylosing spondylitis
- in patients with bronchial asthma with narrowing of the bronchi as a result of pneumothorax or pleurisy
- inspiratory dyspnea may be caused by a foreign body in the airway
- laryngeal tumor
- swelling of the vocal cords with laryngeal stenosis (often in children under 1 year of age, see and)
Expiratory dyspnea - difficulty breathing out
It is characterized by difficulty in exhaling due to changes in the walls of the bronchi or their spasm, due to inflammatory or allergic swelling of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree, and accumulation of sputum. It occurs most often when:
- attacks of bronchial asthma
- chronic obstructive bronchitis
- emphysema
Such shortness of breath also occurs with the participation of not only the respiratory, but also the auxiliary muscles, although less pronounced than in the previous version.
With lung diseases in advanced stages, as well as with heart failure, shortness of breath can be mixed, that is, both expiratory and inspiratory, when it is difficult to both inhale and exhale.
Hematogenous type of shortness of breath
This species is the most rare, compared to previous variants, and is characterized by a high frequency and depth of breathing. It is associated with changes in blood pH and the toxic effects of metabolic products, in particular urea, on the respiratory center. Most often this pathology occurs with:
- endocrine disorders - severe forms of diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis
- liver and kidney failure
- for anemia
In most cases, shortness of breath is mixed. In approximately 20%, its cause, despite detailed examination of patients, remains unknown.
Dyspnea due to endocrine diseases
People with diabetes, obesity, and thyrotoxicosis in most cases also suffer from shortness of breath, the reasons for its appearance in endocrine disorders are as follows:
- For diabetes Over time, changes necessarily occur in the cardiovascular system, when all organs suffer from oxygen starvation. Moreover, sooner or later, with diabetes, kidney function is impaired (diabetic nephropathy), anemia occurs, which further aggravates hypoxia and increases shortness of breath.
- Obesity - it is obvious that with an excess of adipose tissue, organs such as the heart and lungs are subject to increased stress, which also complicates the functions of the respiratory muscles, causing shortness of breath when walking, during exercise.
- For thyrotoxicosis When the production of thyroid hormones is excessive, all metabolic processes increase sharply, which also increases the need for oxygen. Moreover, when hormones are in excess, they increase the number of heart contractions, while the heart cannot fully supply blood (oxygen) to all organs and tissues, hence the body tries to compensate for this hypoxia - as a result, shortness of breath occurs.
Shortness of breath with anemia
Animia is a group of pathological conditions of the body in which the composition of the blood changes, the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin decreases (with frequent bleeding, blood cancer, in vegetarians, after severe infectious diseases, with oncological processes, congenital metabolic disorders). With the help of hemoglobin, the body delivers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues; accordingly, with its deficiency, organs and tissues experience hypoxia. The body tries to compensate for the increased need for oxygen by increasing and deepening breaths - shortness of breath occurs. In addition to shortness of breath with anemia, the patient feels weakness, worsening sleep, appetite, headache etc.
In custody
It is extremely important for a doctor:
- establishing the cause of shortness of breath during physical activity or emotional reaction;
- understanding and correct interpretation of patient complaints;
- clarification of the circumstances under which this symptom occurs;
- the presence of other symptoms that accompany shortness of breath.
No less important is:
- the patient’s general understanding of the shortness of breath itself;
- his understanding of the mechanism of dyspnea;
- timely consultation with a doctor;
- correct description of the patient’s feelings.
Thus, shortness of breath is a symptom complex inherent in physiological and many pathological conditions. The examination of patients must be individual, using all available techniques that allow it to be objectively examined in order to select the most rational method of treatment.
Thank you
The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!
What is shortness of breath?
Dyspnea- This symptom which accompanies many diseases. It is characterized by three main external features:- the patient feels a lack of air, a feeling of suffocation occurs;
- breathing usually becomes more rapid;
- The depth of inhalation and exhalation changes, breathing becomes noisier.
What are its main reasons?
There is enough a large number of pathological conditions that manifest themselves as shortness of breath. They can be combined into three large groups, depending on the initial reasons that led to the violations:- Heart pathologies are one of the most common causes of shortness of breath among older people. When the heart ceases to cope with its function normally, the flow of blood and oxygen to various organs, including the brain, begins to decrease. As a result, breathing intensifies.
- Diseases of the bronchi and lungs. If the bronchi are narrowed, and the lung tissue is pathologically changed due to some diseases, then it does not penetrate into the blood required quantity oxygen. The respiratory system tries to work more intensively.
- Anemia. At the same time, the lungs provide the blood with sufficient oxygen. The heart pushes it well through tissues and organs. But due to a lack of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and hemoglobin, the bloodstream is unable to carry oxygen to the tissues.
1. When did the shortness of breath begin?
2. Do attacks occur only during physical activity, or at rest too?
3. What is more difficult to do: inhale or exhale?
4. In what position does it become easier to breathe?
5. What other symptoms are you worried about?
Types of shortness of breath
Basically, in different diseases, shortness of breath has the same symptoms. The greatest differences relate to how the symptom manifests itself during individual phases of breathing. In this regard, there are three types of shortness of breath:1. Inspiratory dyspnea - occurs on inspiration.
2. Expiratory shortness of breath - occurs on exhalation.
3. Mixed shortness of breath - both inhalation and exhalation are difficult.
Cardiac dyspnea
Cardiac dyspnea is shortness of breath that is caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system.Heart failure
Heart failure is a term that should be understood, rather, not as a specific disease of the circulatory system, but as disturbances in the functioning of the heart caused by various diseases. Some of them will be discussed below. Heart failure is characterized by shortness of breath during walking and physical activity. If the disease progresses further, constant shortness of breath may occur, which persists at rest, including during sleep.
Other characteristic symptoms of heart failure are:
- combination of shortness of breath with swelling in the legs, which appear mainly in the evening;
- periodic pain in the heart, a feeling of increased heartbeat and interruptions;
- bluish tint to the skin of the feet, fingers and toes, tip of the nose and earlobes;
- high or low blood pressure;
- general weakness, malaise, increased fatigue;
- frequent dizziness, sometimes fainting;
- Often patients are bothered by a dry cough, which occurs in the form of attacks (the so-called cardiac cough).
Treatment of shortness of breath in heart failure is determined by the nature of the disease that caused it. To enhance cardiac activity, the doctor may prescribe cardiac glycosides.
Shortness of breath and high blood pressure: hypertension
With hypertension, an increase in blood pressure inevitably leads to overload of the heart, which impairs its pumping function, leading to shortness of breath and other symptoms. Over time, if left untreated, it leads to heart failure.Along with shortness of breath and high blood pressure, other characteristic manifestations of hypertension occur:
- headaches and dizziness;
- redness of the facial skin, feeling of hot flashes;
- disturbance of general well-being: a patient with arterial hypertension gets tired faster, he does not tolerate physical activity and any stress;
- “floaters before the eyes” - flickering of small spots of light;
- periodic pain in the heart area.
The diagnosis and treatment of shortness of breath, the occurrence of which is associated with arterial hypertension, is carried out by a therapist and a cardiologist. Constant monitoring of blood pressure, biochemical blood tests, ECG, ultrasound of the heart, and chest x-ray are prescribed. Treatment consists of continuous use of medications that help keep blood pressure levels stable.
Acute severe pain in the heart and shortness of breath: myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction is an acute, dangerous condition in which a section of the heart muscle dies. In this case, heart function quickly and sharply deteriorates, and blood flow is impaired. Since the tissues do not have enough oxygen, the patient often experiences severe shortness of breath during the acute period of myocardial infarction. Other symptoms of myocardial infarction are very characteristic and make it quite easy to recognize this condition:
1.
Shortness of breath is combined with pain in the heart, which occurs behind the sternum. It is very strong and has a stabbing and burning character. At first, the patient may think that he is simply having an angina attack. But the pain does not go away after taking nitroglycerin for more than 5 minutes.
2.
Paleness, cold clammy sweat.
3.
Feeling of heart failure.
4.
A strong feeling of fear - the patient thinks that he is about to die.
5.
A sharp drop in blood pressure as a result of a severe violation of the pumping function of the heart.
If shortness of breath and other symptoms associated with myocardial infarction occur, the patient requires emergency assistance. You need to immediately call an ambulance, which will inject the patient with a strong painkiller and transport him to the hospital.
Shortness of breath and palpitations with paroxysmal tachycardia
Paroxysmal tachycardia is a condition in which the normal rhythm of the heart is disrupted and it begins to contract much more often than it should. At the same time, it does not provide sufficient contraction force and normal blood supply to organs and tissues. The patient notes shortness of breath and increased heart rate, the severity of which depends on how long the tachycardia lasts and how severely the blood flow is impaired.For example, if the heartbeat does not exceed 180 beats per minute, then the patient can tolerate tachycardia completely normally for up to 2 weeks, while complaining only of a feeling of increased heartbeat. At a higher frequency, complaints of shortness of breath occur.
If the breathing disorder is caused by tachycardia, then this heart rhythm disturbance is easily detected after electrocardiography. In the future, the doctor must identify the disease that originally led to this condition. Antiarrhythmic and other medications are prescribed.
Pulmonary vasculitis
Periarteritis nodosa is an inflammatory lesion of small arteries, which most often affects the vessels of the lungs, significantly impairing pulmonary blood flow. A manifestation of this condition is chest shortness of breath. Moreover, it appears 6–12 months earlier than all other symptoms:- increased body temperature, fever: most often shortness of breath is combined with these signs, so patients themselves mistakenly believe that they have developed pneumonia or another respiratory infection;
- abdominal pain associated with damage to the blood vessels of the abdominal cavity;
- arterial hypertension - increased blood pressure as a result of narrowing of peripheral vessels by the inflammatory process;
- polyneuritis – damage to small nerves due to disruption of their blood supply;
- pain in muscles and joints;
- over time, the patient notes a significant loss of body weight;
- signs of kidney damage.
Acute shortness of breath, tachycardia, drop in blood pressure, suffocation:
pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is an acute condition that manifests itself in the entry of a detached blood clot into the pulmonary vessels. In this case, shortness of breath, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and other symptoms develop: - drop in blood pressure;
- the patient becomes pale, cold, sticky sweat appears;
- there is a sharp deterioration in the general condition, which can reach the point of loss of consciousness;
- bluishness of the skin.
When the first signs of incipient pulmonary embolism appear, the patient needs emergency health care. You should call a doctor immediately.
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema is an acute pathological condition that develops when left ventricular function is impaired. First, the patient feels severe shortness of breath, which turns into suffocation. His breathing becomes loud, bubbling. At a distance, wheezing can be heard from the lungs. A wet cough appears, during which clear or watery mucus leaves the lungs. The patient turns blue and suffocation develops.Shortness of breath associated with pulmonary edema requires emergency medical attention.
Pulmonary dyspnea
Shortness of breath is a symptom of almost all diseases of the lungs and bronchi. When the respiratory tract is affected, it is associated with difficulty in the passage of air (on inhalation or exhalation). In lung diseases, shortness of breath occurs because oxygen cannot penetrate normally through the walls of the alveoli into the bloodstream.Bronchitis
Shortness of breath is a characteristic symptom of bronchitis, an inflammatory infection of the bronchi. Inflammation can be localized in the large bronchus, in smaller ones, and in bronchioles, which directly pass into the lung tissue (the disease is called bronchiolitis).Dyspnea occurs in acute and chronic obstructive bronchitis. The course and symptoms of these forms of the disease differ:
1.
Acute bronchitis has all the signs of an acute infectious disease. The patient's body temperature rises, a runny nose, sore throat, dry or wet cough, and a disturbance in the general condition. Treatment of shortness of breath during bronchitis involves the appointment of antiviral and antibacterial drugs, expectorants, bronchodilators (dilating the lumen of the bronchi).
2.
Chronical bronchitis
can lead to constant shortness of breath, or its episodes in the form of exacerbations. This disease is not always caused by infections: it is caused by long-term irritation of the bronchial tree with various allergens and harmful chemicals, tobacco smoke. Treatment for chronic bronchitis is usually long-term.
With obstructive bronchitis, difficulty in exhaling (expiratory shortness of breath) is most often noted. This is caused by three groups of reasons, which the doctor tries to combat during treatment:
- secretion of a large amount of viscous mucus: expectorants help remove it;
- an inflammatory reaction, as a result of which the wall of the bronchus swells, narrowing its lumen: this condition is combated with the help of anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial drugs;
- spasm of the muscles that make up the bronchial wall: against this condition, the doctor prescribes bronchodilators and antiallergic drugs.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a broad term that is sometimes confused with chronic bronchitis, but in fact they are not exactly the same thing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are an independent group of diseases that are accompanied by a narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi, and manifest themselves in the form of shortness of breath as the main symptom. Constant shortness of breath in COPD occurs due to a narrowing of the airways, which is caused by the action of irritating harmful substances on them. Most often, the disease occurs in heavy smokers and people who are employed in hazardous work.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are characterized by the following features:
- The process of narrowing of the bronchi is practically irreversible: it can be stopped and compensated with the help of medications, but cannot be reversed.
- The narrowing of the airways and, as a result, shortness of breath are constantly increasing.
- Dyspnea is predominantly expiratory in nature: small bronchi and bronchioles are affected. Therefore, the patient inhales air easily, but exhales it with difficulty.
- Shortness of breath in such patients is combined with a wet cough, during which sputum is expelled.
Treatment of shortness of breath in COPD is complex and lengthy. The disease often leads to the patient's disability and loss of ability to work.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infectious disease in which an inflammatory process develops in the lung tissue. Shortness of breath and other symptoms occur, the severity of which depends on the pathogen, the extent of the lesion, and the involvement of one or both lungs in the process.Shortness of breath with pneumonia is combined with other symptoms:
1. Usually the disease begins with a sharp increase in temperature. It is similar to a severe respiratory viral infection. The patient feels a deterioration in his general condition.
2. There is a severe cough, which leads to the release of a large amount of pus.
3. Shortness of breath with pneumonia is observed from the very beginning of the disease and is of a mixed nature, that is, the patient has difficulty inhaling and exhaling.
4. Pale, sometimes bluish-gray skin tone.
5. Chest pain, especially in the place where the pathological focus is located.
6. In severe cases, pneumonia is often complicated by heart failure, which leads to increased shortness of breath and the appearance of other characteristic symptoms.
If you experience severe shortness of breath, cough or other symptoms of pneumonia, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If treatment is not started within the first 8 hours, the prognosis for the patient worsens greatly, even leading to death. The main diagnostic method for shortness of breath caused by pneumonia is chest x-ray. Antibacterial and other medications are prescribed.
Shortness of breath in bronchial asthma
Bronchial asthma is an allergic disease in which there is an inflammatory process in the bronchi, accompanied by spasm of their walls and the development of shortness of breath. The following symptoms are characteristic of this pathology:- Dyspnea in bronchial asthma always develops in the form of attacks. In this case, it is easy for the patient to inhale air, but it is very difficult to exhale it (expiratory dyspnea). The attack usually goes away after taking or inhaling bronchomimetics - drugs that help relax the bronchial wall and expand its lumen.
- With a prolonged attack of shortness of breath, pain occurs in the lower part of the chest, which is associated with tension in the diaphragm.
- During an attack, a cough and a feeling of some congestion in the chest occur. In this case, practically no sputum is produced. It is viscous, glassy, and comes off in small quantities, usually at the end of an episode of suffocation.
- Shortness of breath and other symptoms of bronchial asthma most often occur during patient contact with certain allergens: plant pollen, animal hair, dust, etc.
- Often other allergic reactions such as urticaria, rash, allergic rhinitis, etc. are also observed simultaneously.
- The most severe manifestation of bronchial asthma is the so-called status asthmaticus. It develops like a normal attack, but is not controlled with bronchomimetics. Gradually, the patient's condition worsens, to the point that he falls into a coma. Status asthmaticus is a life-threatening condition and requires emergency medical attention.
Lung tumors
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that is asymptomatic in the early stages. At the very beginning, the process can only be detected by chance, during radiography or fluorography. In the future, when malignancy reaches enough large sizes, shortness of breath and other symptoms occur: - Frequent hacking cough which bothers the patient almost constantly. In this case, sputum is released in very small quantities.
- Hemoptysis– one of the most characteristic symptoms of lung cancer and tuberculosis.
- Chest pain joins shortness of breath and other symptoms if the tumor grows beyond the lungs and affects the chest wall.
- Violation of general condition patient, weakness, lethargy, weight loss and complete exhaustion.
- Lung tumors often give metastases to the lymph nodes, nerves, internal organs, ribs, sternum, and spinal column. In this case, additional symptoms and complaints appear.
Diagnosis of the causes of shortness of breath in malignant tumors in the early stages is quite difficult. The most informative methods are radiography, computed tomography, examination of tumor markers in the blood (special substances that are formed in the body in the presence of a tumor), cytological examination of sputum, bronchoscopy.
Treatment may include surgical intervention, the use of cytostatics, radiation therapy and other, more modern methods.
Other diseases of the lungs and chest that cause shortness of breath
There are also a large number of pulmonary pathologies that are less common, but can also lead to shortness of breath:- Pulmonary tuberculosis – a specific infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Actinomycosis of the lungs – a fungal disease, the cause of which is mainly a significant decrease in immunity.
- Pneumothorax- a condition in which there is damage to the lung tissue, and air penetrates from the lungs into the chest cavity. The most common spontaneous pneumothorax is caused by infections and chronic processes in the lungs.
- Emphysema is swelling of the lung tissue that also occurs in some chronic diseases.
- Violation of the inhalation process as a result respiratory muscle damage (intercostal muscles and diaphragm) for poliomyelitis, myasthenia gravis, paralysis.
- Abnormal chest shape and compression of the lungs for scoliosis, defects of the thoracic vertebrae, ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis), etc.
- Silicosis– occupational diseases that are associated with deposits of dust particles in the lungs, and manifest themselves in the form of shortness of breath and other symptoms.
- Sarcoidosis is an infectious disease of the lungs.
Pallor and shortness of breath on exertion: anemia
Anemia (anemia) is a group of pathologies that are characterized by a decrease in the content of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. The causes of anemia can be very diverse. The number of red blood cells may decrease due to congenital hereditary disorders, past infections and serious illnesses, blood tumors (leukemia), internal chronic bleeding and diseases of internal organs. All anemias have one thing in common: as a result of a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the bloodstream, less oxygen reaches organs and tissues, including the brain. The body tries to somehow compensate for this condition, as a result the depth and frequency of breaths increases. The lungs try to “pump” more oxygen into the blood.
Shortness of breath with anemia is combined with the following symptoms:
1.
The patient literally feels a loss of strength, constant weakness, he does not tolerate increased physical activity. These symptoms occur much earlier before shortness of breath occurs.
2.
Pale skin - characteristic feature, since it is the hemoglobin contained in the blood that gives it its pink color.
3.
Headaches and dizziness, impaired memory, attention, concentration - these symptoms are associated with oxygen starvation of the brain.
4.
Vital functions such as sleep, sexual desire, and appetite are also disrupted.
5.
With severe anemia, heart failure develops over time, leading to worsening shortness of breath and other symptoms.
6.
Some individual types of anemia have their own symptoms. For example, with B12 deficiency anemia, skin sensitivity is impaired. With anemia associated with liver damage, in addition to pale skin, jaundice also occurs.
The most reliable type of research that allows you to identify anemia is a general blood test. The treatment plan is developed by a hematologist, depending on the causes of the disease.
Shortness of breath in other diseases
Why does shortness of breath occur after eating?
Shortness of breath after eating is a fairly common complaint. However, by itself it does not allow one to suspect any specific disease. The mechanism of its development is as follows.After eating, the digestive system begins to work actively. The gastric mucosa, pancreas and intestines begin to secrete numerous digestive enzymes. Energy is needed to push food through the digestive tract. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates processed by enzymes are then absorbed into the bloodstream. In connection with all these processes, an influx to the organs is necessary digestive system a large amount of blood.
Blood flow in the human body is redistributed. The intestines receive more oxygen, other organs receive less. If the body works normally, then no disturbances are noted. If there are any diseases or abnormalities, then internal organs oxygen starvation develops, and the lungs, trying to eliminate it, begin to work at an accelerated pace. Shortness of breath appears.
If you experience shortness of breath after eating, then you need to see a therapist in order to undergo an examination and understand its causes.
Obesity
In obesity, shortness of breath occurs as a result of the following reasons:- Organs and tissues do not receive enough blood because it is difficult for the heart to push it through the entire body of fat.
- Fat is also deposited in the internal organs, making it difficult for the heart and lungs to function.
- The subcutaneous layer of fat makes it difficult for the respiratory muscles to work.
- Overweight and obesity are conditions that in the vast majority of cases are accompanied by atherosclerosis and arterial hypotension - these factors also contribute to the occurrence of shortness of breath.
Diabetes
In diabetes mellitus, shortness of breath is associated with the following reasons:- If blood glucose levels are not controlled, diabetes mellitus leads to damage to small blood vessels over time. As a result, all organs are constantly in a state of oxygen starvation.
- Type II diabetes often results in obesity, which makes it difficult for the heart and lungs to function.
- Ketoacidosis is acidification of the blood when so-called ketone bodies appear in it, which are formed as a result of increased glucose levels in the blood.
- Diabetic nephropathy is damage to the kidney tissue as a result of impaired renal blood flow. This provokes anemia, which, in turn, causes even more severe oxygen starvation of the tissues and shortness of breath.
Thyrotoxicosis
Thyrotoxicosis is a condition in which there is excessive production of thyroid hormones. In this case, patients complain of shortness of breath. Shortness of breath in this disease is due to two reasons. Firstly, all metabolic processes in the body intensify, so it experiences a need for increased amounts of oxygen. At the same time, the heart rate increases, up to atrial fibrillation. In this condition, the heart is not able to pump blood normally through tissues and organs; they do not receive the required amount of oxygen.
Shortness of breath in a child: the most common causes
In general, shortness of breath in children occurs due to the same reasons as in adults. However, there are some specifics. We will take a closer look at some of the most common diseases that cause shortness of breath in a child.Respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn
This is a condition when a newborn baby's pulmonary blood flow is disrupted, causing pulmonary edema. Most often, distress syndrome develops in children born to women with diabetes, bleeding, heart and vascular diseases. In this case, the child experiences the following symptoms:1. Severe shortness of breath. At the same time, breathing becomes very rapid, and the baby’s skin acquires a bluish tint.
2. The skin becomes pale.
3. Mobility of the chest is difficult.
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome requires immediate medical attention.
Laryngitis and false croup
Laryngitis is an inflammatory disease of the larynx, which manifests itself as sore throat, barking cough, and hoarseness. In this case, the child easily experiences swelling of the vocal cords, which leads to severe inspiratory shortness of breath and a state of suffocation. Usually the attack occurs in the evening. In this case, you need to immediately call an ambulance, ensure a flow of fresh air into the room, and apply heat to the heels.Dyspnea in children with diseases of the respiratory system
In children, bronchitis leads to shortness of breath much more often than in adults. Even a banal acute respiratory infection can lead to shortness of breath. also in Lately In childhood, bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases are becoming more common.Congenital heart defects
There are many types of congenital heart abnormalities. The most common among them are:- open oval window;
- open interventricular septum;
- open botal duct;
- tetralogy of Fallot.
Anemia in children
Shortness of breath in a child associated with anemia is quite common. Anemia can be caused by congenital hereditary causes, Rh conflict between mother and newborn, malnutrition and hypovitaminosis.Causes of shortness of breath during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman's cardiovascular and respiratory systems begin to experience increased stress. This happens as a result of the following reasons: - the growing embryo and fetus require more oxygen;
- the total volume of blood circulating in the body increases;
- the growing fetus begins to put pressure on the diaphragm, heart and lungs from below, which complicates breathing movements and heart contractions;
- When a pregnant woman is malnourished, anemia develops.
If shortness of breath during pregnancy is severe and often bothers you, then you should definitely visit a doctor at the antenatal clinic.
Treatment of shortness of breath
To understand how to treat shortness of breath, you first need to understand what causes this symptom. It is necessary to find out what disease led to its occurrence. Without this, high-quality treatment is impossible, and incorrect actions, on the contrary, can harm the patient. Therefore, medications for shortness of breath should be prescribed strictly by a therapist, cardiologist, pulmonologist or infectious disease specialist.Also, you should not use all kinds of folk remedies for shortness of breath on your own, without the knowledge of a doctor. At best, they will be ineffective or have minimal effect.
If a person notices this symptom, he should visit a doctor as soon as possible to prescribe therapy.
Before use, you should consult a specialist.The medical name for shortness of breath is dyspnea. International classifiers distinguish two main types of this condition:
- Tachypnea is rapid shallow breathing with a respiratory rate of more than 20 per minute.
- Bradypnea is a decrease in respiratory function with a slowdown in respiratory rate to 12 or less movements per minute.
Based on the time interval and intensity of dyspnea, there are three main subtypes of dyspnea:
- Acute (from a couple of minutes to hours).
- Subacute (from several hours to a couple of days).
- Chronic (from 3–5 days to several years).
Dyspnea is a typical symptom of heart failure - this is a clinical syndrome characterized by disturbances in the functioning of the heart failure system, poor blood supply to tissues/organs of the system and, ultimately, myocardial damage.
In addition to shortness of breath, a patient with heart failure feels severe fatigue, edema appears and physical activity is significantly reduced. Stagnation of blood due to weakened heart muscle provokes hypoxia, acidosis and other negative manifestations in metabolism.
If you suspect that you have heart failure, you should immediately contact a cardiologist and take measures to stabilize hemodynamics as quickly as possible, from increasing blood pressure and normalizing heart rhythm to relieving pain - often, heart failure causes.
- Physiological - strong physical activity.
- Cardiac - pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiac arrhythmias, myxomas, cardiomyopathies, heart defects, ischemic heart disease, heart failure.
- Respiratory - epiglottitis, allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, atelectasis and pneumothorax, enphysema, tuberculosis, COPD, poisoning with various gases, kyphoscoliosis, interstitial diseases, pneumonia, pulmonary obstruction, cancer.
- Vascular - thromboembolism, primary hypertension, vasculitis, arterial-venous aneurysms.
- Neuromuscular - lateral sclerosis, phrenic nerve palsy, myasthenia gravis.
- Other causes - ascites, thyroid problems, anemia, dysfunction respiratory system, acidosis of the metabolic spectrum, uremia, vocal chord dysfunction, preural effusions, pericardium, hyperventilation syndromes.
- Other circumstances.
Symptoms
The symptoms of shortness of breath can be varied, but in any case associated with a disruption of the normal rhythm of respiratory function. In particular, the depth and frequency of respiratory contractions change noticeably, from a sharp increase in respiratory rate to its decrease to zero. Subjectively, the patient feels an acute lack of air, tries to breathe deeper or, on the contrary, as superficially as possible.
In the case of inspiratory dyspnea, it is difficult to inhale, and the process of air entering the lungs is accompanied by noise. With expiratory shortness of breath it is much more difficult to exhale, since the lumens of the bronchioles and the smallest particles of the bronchi narrow. Mixed type dyspnea is the most dangerous and often causes a complete stop of breathing.
The main diagnostic measures consist of the most rapid assessment of the patient’s current clinical picture, as well as a study of the medical history. After this, additional studies are prescribed (from X-rays and ultrasound to tomograms, tests, etc.) and referrals to specialized specialists are issued. Most often, they are a pulmonologist, cardiologist and neurologist.
Since shortness of breath can be caused by a huge number of different causes, its treatment is selected only after correctly determining the exact diagnosis through a comprehensive diagnosis of possible problems.
Conservative and drug treatment
Below are the typical causes of shortness of breath and how to eliminate them.
- If a foreign body is present, it is removed using the Heimlich maneuver; in extreme cases, a surgical method is used, in particular tracheosthmia.
- For bronchial asthma - selective beta-adrenergic agonists (Salbutamol), intravenous aminophylline.
- Left ventricular failure - narcotic analgesics, diuretics, venous vesodilators (Nitroglycerin).
- The absence of visible causes or the impossibility of differential diagnosis in case of severe shortness of breath at the prehospital stage - Lasix.
- The neurogenic nature of the symptom is breathing exercises, intravenous Diazepam.
- Obstructions - taking anxiolytics, direct administration of oxygen, non-invasive respiratory support, surgical reduction (for enphysema), creating a positive pressure vector on the patient’s inhalations and exhalations.
Treatment of shortness of breath with folk remedies
The following measures will help reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks of shortness of breath:
- Hot goat milk on an empty stomach - 1 glass with a dessert spoon of honey, three times a day for the 1st week.
- Dry dill in the amount of 2 teaspoons/glass, brew with boiling water, strain, cool for half an hour and take warm, ½ cup three times a day for two weeks.
- Take a liter of flower honey, grind ten peeled small heads of garlic in a meat grinder and squeeze out the juice of ten lemons. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and place under closed lid in a jar for a week. Use 4 tsp. spoons once a day, preferably in the morning and on an empty stomach for two months.
What to do and where to go if shortness of breath appears?
First of all, don't panic! Carefully examine your condition for the presence of other symptoms - if dyspnea is accompanied by pain in the heart or an area close to it, and there is also a semi-fainting state, the skin turns blue, and auxiliary muscle groups are also involved in the breathing process, for example, intercostal, thoracic, cervical, then you should immediately call an ambulance, since shortness of breath may be cardiovascular or pulmonary in nature.
In other cases, try to temporarily avoid heavy physical exertion and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and make an appointment with a therapist or pulmonologist. Specialists will conduct an initial assessment of your health, write out directions for diagnostic measures, or ask additional doctors (cardiologist, vascular surgeon, oncologist, neurologist).
Useful video
Shortness of breath is a dangerous symptom
How to easily cure shortness of breath?
Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms in medical practice. The presence of slight shortness of breath (OD) does not always indicate the development of serious illnesses. Many people, including those without heart pathologies or diseases of the respiratory system, have experienced shortness of breath after intense physical exertion, prolonged exposure to a poorly ventilated or smoky room, stressful situations, severe fatigue, etc.
Some emotional patients complain that they feel short of breath when speaking (especially when speaking in public). OD and heart pain, which occur at the height of emotional stress in young people, are frequent companions of cardioneurosis.
However, regular OD when walking short distances or at rest, combined with severe dizziness, weakness, arrhythmias (feelings of interruptions in the heart), changes in skin color, etc., is a serious reason to consult a doctor for a comprehensive examination and identification the reasons for its occurrence.
Dyspnea is a clinical symptom manifested by a violation of the frequency and depth of breathing, as well as a change in the patient’s usual rhythm of breathing movements. The development of OD is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, up to a feeling of suffocation.
How to pronounce: shortness of breath or shortness of breath
The term shortness of breath, which is often used by many patients, does not exist in medicine. The feeling of shortness of breath is called shortness of breath or dyspnea.
Shortness of breath - symptoms
In addition to a feeling of lack of air, dyspnea may be accompanied by a feeling of constriction in the chest, suffocation, paleness or redness of the face, tachycardia, and the inability to fully inhale or exhale.
Also, in severe cases, pathological types of breathing may appear:
Classification of dyspnea
An increased frequency of respiratory movements (while the breathing itself is shallow) is called tachypnea. The rapid breathing of patients with severe tachypnea may resemble the “breathing of a cornered animal” - noisy, frequent and superficial.
For reference. Shortness of breath, accompanied by an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements, is usually compensatory, that is, it occurs in response to O2 deficiency in organ and tissue structures. The development of such shortness of breath is indicative of heart failure (HF).
At the very beginning of the disease, shortness of breath and fatigue during physical activity may be the first and long time the only signs of the disease. As the disease progresses, shortness of breath begins to appear not only when performing physical activity, but also with minimal movement or complete rest.
If rapid breathing movements are accompanied by deep, full breaths, then this type of shortness of breath is called hyperpnea. It should be noted that if cardiac dyspnea is compensatory and occurs as a response of the body to developed hypoxia, hyperpnea is often a controlled type of breathing.
An example of controlled hyperventilation (hyperpnea) is rapid breathing during exercise. In this case, rapid breathing will not be compensatory, but adaptive, helping to tolerate increased load without developing hypoxia.
Physiological shortness of breath will differ from pathological shortness of breath in heart failure in that it will not be accompanied by:
- significant feeling of suffocation,
- pain in the heart,
- dizziness,
- severe weakness.
This is due to the fact that when cardiac dyspnea occurs, due to a violation of the ability of the myocardium to contract, an increased respiratory rate allows one to slightly compensate for oxygen starvation of the tissues.
Important. In healthy people who do not have heart problems, such physiological shortness of breath will contribute to the body’s complete adaptation to increased oxygen consumption by tissues.
In addition to the cardiac cause of shortness of breath, tachypnea can be observed with:
- anemia,
- feverish conditions,
- nervous excitement,
- initial stages of shocks.
Reducing the number of breathing movements
In some cases, dyspnea may be accompanied by a decrease in respiratory rate. This shortness of breath is called bradypnea. A decrease in respiratory rate develops due to lengthening of respiratory pauses.Shortness of breath accompanied by superficial bradypnea is called oligopnea.
Attention. Severe lack of air, accompanied by a sharp depression in the frequency of respiratory movements, can occur in patients with head injuries, cerebral hemorrhage, severe intoxication, etc.
A complete stop of breathing movements is called apnea. Apnea can often be intermittent. Physiological brief 
apnea can sometimes occur in young children. Such stops in breathing are short-lived and are not accompanied by a change in the baby’s complexion.
In an adult, this type of dyspnea may occur during sleep. Risk factors for the development of sleep apnea in an adult patient are:
- presence of obesity;
- chronic pulmonary pathologies;
- taking sedatives or tranquilizers;
- alcoholism;
- hormonal diseases, menopause;
- long-term smoking;
- the presence of diabetes (diabetes mellitus), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary pathology), deviated nasal septum.
Specific shortness of breath in heart failure, which develops when the patient tries to take a horizontal position (lie down to rest), is called orthopnea. This type of shortness of breath is characterized by the fact that when the patient takes a forced position (sitting, slightly leaning forward, leaning slightly on his hands), the BP decreases.
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Classification of dyspnea by form
Depending on which phase of breathing is disturbed (inhalation or exhalation), shortness of breath is usually divided into inspiratory, expiratory and mixed. The development of suffocation is placed in a separate class.
Inspiratory dyspnea is a breathing disorder associated with difficulty breathing. The development of such dyspnea occurs when there is an obstacle that impedes the flow of air into the lungs.
Inspiratory dyspnea is indicative for patients:
- with swelling of the vocal cords or subglottic space,
- in the presence of tumors in the lungs,
- in the presence of foreign bodies in the bronchi,
- with a retropharyngeal abscess,
- with the development of false croup.
Unlike inspiratory dyspnea, expiratory dyspnea develops due to the inability to fully exhale. The development of expiratory OD is associated with the patient’s inability to fully exhale due to narrowing, spasm or swelling of the bronchial mucosa. Expiratory OD develops in the presence of:
- chronic inflammatory process in the bronchi;
- pathological destruction of alveolar septa;
- Excessive air retention syndrome, due to the inability to fully exhale it from the lungs when:
- bronchial asthma,
- chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases,
- pulmonary emphysema.
Cardiac dyspnea is mixed. That is, shortness of breath in heart failure is accompanied by difficulty in both inhalation and exhalation. Also, a mixed version of dyspnea occurs in patients with:
- pneumonia,
- bronchitis,
- chronic respiratory failure,
- pneumothorax,
- ascites (both in chronic heart failure and arising for other reasons).
In some cases, mixed shortness of breath after eating may occur in patients with severe flatulence or in very obese patients. Shortness of breath after eating, combined with abdominal pain (pain occurs 10-15 minutes after eating) and dyspeptic disorders, is typical for patients with Dunbar syndrome - compression stenosis of the celiac trunk.
Important. An extreme manifestation of respiratory failure is considered to be an attack of suffocation. This type of dyspnea is characteristic of an asthma attack, with the development of status asthmaticus.
Depending on the time of occurrence and duration of shortness of breath attacks, dyspnea can be temporary or permanent. An example of temporary shortness of breath is respiratory failure due to pneumonia.
Attention. Cardiac dyspnea, as well as OD in chronic respiratory failure or obstructive pulmonary diseases, are constant and worsen during physical activity. In severe cases of illness, shortness of breath begins to bother patients even at rest.
What could cause shortness of breath
Normally, shortness of breath can occur when: 
- long stay in a stuffy or smoky room;
- excessive physical activity;
- overheating (visiting a sauna, bathhouse) or hypothermia;
- pregnancy.
Pathological shortness of breath is characteristic of diseases of the cardiovascular system (cardiac dyspnea), pulmonary pathologies, moderate and severe anemia, blood diseases accompanied by inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis (severe leukemia).
Shortness of breath can also occur with:
- intoxications;
- high temperature (fever);
- dehydration, infectious diseases accompanied by damage to lung tissue (pneumonia) or significant intoxication;
- severe allergic reactions (OD associated with laryngeal edema can be observed with Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock);
- cardioneurosis;
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- obesity;
- severe flatulence;
- Dunbar syndrome;
- hepatolienal syndrome (enlarged liver and spleen;
- diseases of the endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis);
- hormonal imbalance due to the onset of menopause;
- bleeding in the brain;
- traumatic brain injury.
Shortness of breath during pregnancy
Moderate shortness of breath during pregnancy is an absolutely normal condition and does not require special treatment unless it is accompanied by:- paleness, redness or blueness of the face;
- bradyarrhythmia or severe tachycardia;
- sensations of interruptions in the work of the heart and pain in the chest;
- the appearance of anxiety, restlessness or disturbance of consciousness, lethargy, loss of consciousness;
- the appearance of the smell of acetone.
For reference. OD during pregnancy is most pronounced in the third trimester. Such shortness of breath is associated with a pronounced load on the woman’s body, a significant increase in body weight and increased pressure from the enlarged uterus (due to the growth of the fetus) on the diaphragm.
This complicates breathing movements and leads to problems with breathing; increased shortness of breath in pregnant women is observed after walking or eating.
Also, shortness of breath during pregnancy may be associated with temporary pressure on the celiac trunk and abdominal aorta.
After childbirth, breathing is completely restored.
Shortness of breath in children
Severe respiratory distress in newborns occurs when:
- asphyxia of newborns,
- hypoxia (fetal distress),
- lung malformations,
- deep prematurity,
- congenital heart defects.
Also, the causes of dyspnea in children can be:
- cystic fibrosis,
- false croup,
- anemia,
- bronchitis,
- pneumonia,
- severe allergic reactions,
- intoxication,
- anemia, etc.
Shortness of breath due to lung diseases
Breathing disorders are a constant companion for patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Regular shortness of breath and cough can also bother long-term smokers.
Also, severe dyspnea is observed in patients with cystic fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, and pneumothorax.
In the presence of a foreign body, breathing problems may be accompanied by wheezing, convulsive breathing. The severity of dyspnea will depend on the level of bronchial obstruction.
Attention. OD with cough and symptoms of intoxication are observed in patients with malignant tumors or metastatic lesions in the lungs.
Infectious causes of shortness of breath include pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy, tuberculosis, and false croup syndrome (in young children).
Shortness of breath due to pathologies of the cardiovascular system
Pathological cardiac OD may accompany: 