Difficulty breathing is a symptom of many conditions, including colds and flu, anxiety, asthma, COPD, emphysema, heart attacks, and more. Physical exertion and obstructions are also possible causes.
People may experience physical difficulty inhaling or exhaling or feeling like they cannot get enough oxygen from each breath. Difficulty breathing can be mild or severe.
Difficulty breathing may have an obvious cause, such as physical exertion or choking, but in other instances, the root of the problem may not be clear. A shortness of breath that comes on suddenly, progressively worsens and has no clear cause is a medical emergency and requires professional assistance.
In this article, we examine the possible reasons people might experience difficulty breathing and discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this symptom.
There are several different reasons a person may feel short of breath.
While many of these may be short-lived or mild, a person should seek immediate medical assistance if they, or someone around them, is having serious difficulty breathing or shortness of breath is accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, and fever.
Respiratory infections
People with a common cold, the flu, and other respiratory infections may have difficulty breathing. These illnesses cause the following symptoms, which can make breathing more difficult:
- stuffy nose
- a sore throat
- inflammation in tlungs
- fluid buildup
- sinusitis
- excess mucus in the airways
The severity of respiratory infection symptoms can vary from mild to severe. It is abnormal for a cold or flu to cause difficulty breathing; anyone experiencing this should seek immediate medical assistance.
Infections can affect different parts of the lungs. For example, bronchitis is inflammation in the main lung airways (bronchi), while pneumonia can cause inflammation and fluid or pus buildup in the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli).
Learn how to ease the symptoms of a cold here.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a term that describes several lung disorders, including chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. COPD symptoms may worsen at night or after exertion.
COPD can cause a range of symptoms, such as:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- coughing
- fatigue as a result of reduced oxygen in the blood
Other lung disorders
Other lung conditions that may cause shortness of breath include:
- cardiogenic pulmonary edema
- pulmonary fibrosis
- pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- pleural effusion
- sarcoidosis
- pulmonary embolism
Lung cancer
Certain types of lung cancer and cancer treatments can cause shortness of breath.
Cancerous growths in the airways specifically can restrict airflow, while tumor surgery, chemotherapy drugs, and radiation therapy can affect breathing in different ways.
For example, radiotherapy can cause inflammation in the lungs, while people undergoing cancer treatment are at a higher risk of anemia, pleural effusion, and other conditions that affect respiratory function.
Choking and physical obstruction
Choking occurs when an object becomes lodged in a person’s throat. The object could be a larger piece of food, a toy, or another non-edible item that a child may typically put in their mouth.
Choking can be life threatening if the object remains in the person’s mouth and restricts breathing.
Obesity
People who are obese or overweight may experience periods during which they have difficulty breathing. This may occur after exertion, eating, or other activities.
Extra fat around the neck, chest, and abdomen can
Physical exertion
If weight or a lack of exercise is causing breathing difficulty, starting an exercise regimen and following a healthful diet can significantly reduce or eliminate the problem.
Anxiety
Anxiety can cause physical symptoms, including shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. A person’s breath is likely to return to normal once their anxiety eases.
Other symptoms of anxiety
- feeling nervous or on edge
- raised heart rate
- fatigue
Panic attacks
People may sometimes experience extreme anxiety or panic attacks that resemble a heart attack. Other symptoms of a panic attack can include:
- a raised or pounding heartbeat
- a feeling of choking
- sweating
Learn about the differences between a panic attack and a heart attack here.
Pregnancy
As pregnancy progresses, the fetus becomes bigger and can start to push on surrounding organs and muscles. These include the diaphragm, a muscle directly below the lungs that helps a person take deep breaths.
If the uterus pushes against the diaphragm, this can make it more difficult for the person to take deep breaths.
Anemia
Anemia occurs when the body produces less healthy red blood cells than it requires–leading to a lack of oxygen-rich blood circulating. This
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways leading to the lungs to become inflamed.
As with other chronic conditions, a person’s asthma will flare from time to time, usually as a result of exposure to a trigger. Triggers can vary between people but include exercise, smoke, or allergens.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It is a life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis progresses quickly, but it has some early warning signs and symptoms, such as tightness in the throat, difficulty breathing, and hives.
Heart attack
Difficulty breathing is
If a person experiences the following symptoms, they should get medical attention immediately:
- chest discomfort
- trouble breathing
- discomfort in the back, jaw, neck, stomach, or one or both arms
- lightheadedness
- cold sweats
- nausea
- pulmonary embolism
- pleural effusion
- pneumothorax
- pericarditis
- cardiac tamponade
There are many possible causes of breathing difficulties. People should see their doctor whenever they have trouble breathing for unknown reasons.
At an appointment, the doctor will ask about the other symptoms that a person is experiencing. In some cases, this may be enough for the doctor to determine the cause.
- allergy tests
- chest X-rays
- lung tests
- ultrasound scans
- CT scans
- spirometry and methacholine challenge tests
- arterial blood gas analysis
When to see a doctor
A person should seek immediate medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing that causes them to feel faint or occurs alongside other symptoms of a heart attack.
Otherwise, a person with unexplained shortness of breath or other breathing problems should speak to their doctor to determine what is causing the issue.
The cause of the breathing difficulty will determine the treatment. Some common treatments could include:
- removal of an object in the throat, in cases of choking
- medications
- inhalers for asthma and other upper respiratory conditions
- an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen) for anaphylaxis
- eating smaller meals for acid reflux and COPD
- antacids for acid reflux
In some cases, people can improve their breathing by using specific breathing exercises to increase their lung capacity.
Learn about these exercises here.
Prevention
There are many potential ways to prevent the development of breathing difficulties. Some steps to consider include:
- taking smaller bites of food and avoiding placing loose objects in the mouth
- avoiding smoking and breathing in secondhand smoke
- taking allergy medications and avoiding known allergens
- eating healthful meals and exercising regularly
- eating smaller meals
- taking prescribed medications for chronic conditions and avoiding triggers
Below are frequently asked questions relating to shortness of breath.
Why do I feel like I’m not getting enough air in my lungs?
There are various reasons why a person may have difficulty breathing deeply, including:
- obstruction
- asthma
- anxiety
- colds
- lack of fitness
How do I know if my shortness of breath is serious?
If a person’s shortness of breath is sudden, without a clear cause, and progressively worsens they should seek medical assistance immediately.
If someone experiences shortness of breath with chest pain, dizziness, and nausea, they should also seek immediate help.
What to do when you feel like you can’t breathe?
Remedying shortness of breath will depend on the cause. In the case of exercise-induced shortness of breath, resting can typically improve symptoms; likewise, if anxiety is causing symptoms, relaxation techniques may help.
Ensuring the airways are clear, avoiding irritants, and breathing in controlled, steady breaths can also be beneficial.
If shortness of breath is sudden or severe, a person should seek medical assistance.
There are several different causes of breathing difficulty. Anyone with concerns about this symptom should see their doctor. Some causes are chronic, such as COPD, while others are temporary, for example, the common cold.
If symptoms are severe, the person will need immediate medical attention.
A person can typically avoid having difficulty breathing by avoiding triggers and living a healthful lifestyle that includes eating well and exercising regularly.v