Reviewed By David C. Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department… of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.more »
Definition
Breathing difficulty involves a sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of not getting enough air.
Shortness of breath; Breathlessness; Difficulty breathing; Dyspnea
Considerations
No standard definition exists for difficulty breathing. Some people may feel breathless with only mild exercise (for example, climbing stairs), even though they do not have a specific disorder. Others may have advanced lung disease but never feel short of breath.
A blockage of the air passages in your nose, mouth, or throat may lead to difficulty breathing.
Heart disease can cause breathlessness if your heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. If your brain, muscles, or other body organs do not receive enough oxygen, a sense of breathlessness may occur.
Sometimes emotional distress, such as anxiety, can lead to difficulty breathing.
The following problems may cause breathing difficulty:
In some circumstances, a small degree of breathing difficulty may be normal. Severe nasal congestion is one example. Strenuous exercise, especially when you do not exercise regularly, is another example.
If difficulty breathing is new or is getting worse, this may indicate a serious problem. Though many causes are harmless and easily corrected, any breathing difficulty requires that you contact your health care provider.
If your doctor has been treating you for a long-term problem with your lungs or heart, follow your health care provider's directions to help with that problem. (See: asthma, COPD, heart failure)
Call your health care provider if
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if:
Breathing difficulty comes on suddenly or seriously interferes with your breathing
Someone completely stops breathing
See your health care provider if breathing difficulty starts suddenly or is severe, or if any of the following occur with breathing difficulties:
Chest discomfort, pain, or pressure
Shortness of breath after only slight exertion or while at rest
Shortness of breath that wakes you up at night or requires you to sleep propped up to aid breathing
Wheezing
Having inhaled or choked on an object (foreign object aspiration or ingestion)
Tightness in the throat or a barking, croupy cough
Development of a fever or significant cough
What to expect at your health care provider's office
Your health care provider will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination.
You may be asked the following medical history questions:
Do you notice shortness of breath?
Do you make grunting sounds while breathing?
Do you have to work hard to breathe?
How long have you had breathing difficulty?
Did it slowly progress over weeks to months?
Did it begin recently?
Did it begin suddenly?
Did it come on slowly (gradual onset)?
Is there a sequence of separate occurrences (episodes)? How long does each last, and does each episode have a similar pattern?
In severe cases of difficulty breathing, hospitalization may be required. Many different medications aimed at treating the cause of breathing difficulty may be used.
If your blood oxygen level is very low, you may need to receive oxygen. High doses of supplemental oxygen may be hazardous for some patients, however. Oxygen is not necessary in all cases of shortness of breath.
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