Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is a symptom with a great many possible causes. When patients experience shortness of breath, they feel as if they cannot take in enough air. This difficulty in breathing may be caused by myriad conditions, some relatively benign and some life-threatening. Serious cardiological reasons for shortness of breath include heart attack, cardiomyopathy, heart arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, cardiac tamponade and pericarditis.
Causes of Shortness of Breath
Other possible causes of shortness of breath include overexertion, severe anxiety or panic attack, a blocked airway, reaction to environmental allergens or pollutants, lung disease, hypertension or hypotension, traumatic injury, and hormonal or enzyme imbalance. If shortness of breath is due to the congestion associated with an upper-respiratory infection, it usually resolves on its own in a matter of days, although bacterial upper-respiratory infections may require the administration of an antibiotic. Obesity can be an exacerbating factor in shortness of breath.
Symptoms of Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath accompanied by any of the following symptoms demands immediate attention:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Choking
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Chest pain
- Heart irregularities
- Digestive issues or back pain
While occasional, explicable bouts of shortness of breath are normal, when they are intense, prolonged or recurrent, their root causes can only be determined through comprehensive medical examination.