Shortness of breath can be caused by exercise, pregnancy, or serious conditions such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or lung cancer. Other symptoms can help determine the cause, but sudden or chronic shortness of breath should be taken seriously and may require emergency help.
Shortness of breath occurs to all of us from time to time, and it can be purely a matter of exercising too much. It is quite typical for hard exercise to cause shortness of breath. After a few minutes of rest, you should be able to “catch your breath” and breathe normally again. Sometimes shortness of breath is caused by conditions such as pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. It may feel a little harder to breathe as your baby grows, and this can be especially noticeable if you practice for a few minutes. If you really feel unable to catch your breath, you should see a doctor right away.
As common as shortness of breath is, the sudden development of difficulty breathing, especially when you don’t have a reasonable explanation, can indicate very serious problems. You shouldn’t ignore shortness of breath that comes on suddenly or seems to happen all the time. In fact, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t catch your breath, you need emergency help. Call 911 or 911 if you are really having difficulty breathing. When shortness of breath occurs in children, you should always see a doctor or contact emergency services right away.
There are a number of things that can cause shortness of breath, and you may be able to find out the cause by looking at other symptoms. For example, if you have shallow breaths and this is accompanied by wheezing, you may be suffering from asthma. When shortness of breath is associated with fever and cold or cough symptoms, you may have bronchitis or pneumonia. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, and you may notice additional symptoms of pale skin and chronic fatigue.
A heart attack, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), or a collapsed lung can cause shortness of breath. Other symptoms of these conditions include tightness or severe pain in the chest. Congestive heart failure can cause chronic shortness of breath, and people may have additional symptoms such as swollen ankles and hands. They may also notice that breathing is harder when they lie down.
Recent or past damage to the lungs can cause shortness of breath. If you’ve recently inhaled or been exposed to chemicals or massive volumes of smoke, this can suggest that your lungs need help. Long-term exposure to chemicals and cigarette smoke may indicate that shortness of breath is caused by emphysema, lung disease, or lung cancer.
One cause of shortness of breath that many people don’t recognize is a panic or anxiety attack. If you start wheezing, can’t catch your breath, and/or start hyperventilating, you could be having a panic attack. Panic attacks and heart attacks are often confused because people may feel chest tightness or chest pain with both. Unless you have panic disorder, see a doctor to make sure you don’t miss a heart attack diagnosis.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
