The Quality Of The Sensation And What It Might Mean
Many things contribute to a sensation of shortness of breath,7 and the symptom breaks down into three messily overlapping qualities, which are interesting but dont tell us much about whats going on, just a couple rough clues:
- Effort: a sensation of excessive work or effort to breathe, like breathing is just a slog. It is loosely associated with impairment of the muscular function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
- Tightness: feeling tight may involve actual contstriction of airways as would occur in the early stages of an asthma attack . However, tightness can also be caused by actual spasticity of respiratory muscles, which could be ordinary muscle pain or more serious, like the infamous squeezing hug of multiple sclerosis.
- Air hunger: the most complex sensation, unsatisfied inspiration is described by patients in many ways, like starved for air or my breaths feel too small. Of the treatable causes, it is most clearly associated with anxiety. Although it sure doesnt feel like it, it can occur without any actual loss of respiratory capacity.
Theres Definitely Hope For Some Breathing Troubles
If youre short of breath for any of those reasons, easy relief is possible. Its safe, cheap, and almost fun to experiment with self-massage for trigger points. Results are hardly guaranteed, but its a sensible thing to try.
Changing bad habits is always tricky, but its a more likely path to relief, and increasing your respiratory strength is possible with a little oomph456 and its a worthwhile fitness goal in any case.
Anxiety is the toughest problem to beat, but anyone can benefit from trying.
These three issues may all get tangled up, each one complicating the others, but progress with one is also likely to help the others. Some simple and interesting ideas for self-treatment are suggested in this short article, plus links to much more information for those who want to delve.
Possible Reasons For Shortness Of Breath And Fatigue
Shortness of breath literally means facing a difficulty in breathing due to lack of sufficient quantity of oxygen. It may affect one’s productivity while performing even daily tasks.
Shortness of breath literally means facing a difficulty in breathing due to lack of sufficient quantity of oxygen. It may affect ones productivity while performing even daily tasks.
Shortness of breath generally occurs due to infections, allergies, asthma or other nervous and respiratory disorders. Difficulty in breathing and fatigue are closely related to each other as the latter is a prominent indicator of a person suffering from shortness of breath. Frequent cough, fever and pain in the chest are the most general signs which highlight the presence of this disorder in an individual. You should contact your family doctor immediately, if you face any of the above problems as prevention is better than cure.
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Don’t Accept Regular Fatigue As Part Of Aging
Weariness, tiredness, lack of energy. There are many ways to describe those times when you are so fatigued you can’t do anything. Often you bounce back after a quick rest or a good night’s sleep, but if fatigue is occurring more often and lasting longer, it could be a sign of something more serious.
“Men may chalk up fatigue to aging, but there is no reason you should battle ongoing fatigue,” says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, a geriatric physician with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Everyone gets tired sometimes, and your endurance may decline with age you may not move as fast and sometimes tire quicker but you should never be too fatigued to enjoy an active lifestyle.”
How Worried Should I Be About Omicron
Cases of omicron are doubling about every two days. In the past week, the percentage of omicron cases in the United States rose from 13 percent to 73 percent.
“The major question for everyone right now isn’t whether omicron is going to hit their area. It will,” said Dr. Michael Saag, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for global health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“The question,” he said, “is how much disease will it cause?”
Experts continue to urge people to get vaccinated and get a booster shot to reduce the risk for severe illness.
As of Tuesday, about 61 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated. Just under 30 percent had the booster shot.
“This is going to hit us hard,” Poehling, of Wake Forest Baptist, said. But she added that the sheer speed of omicron’s spread could mean that the variant will run its course quickly. “If you look at South Africa, they seem to be doing much better now. I don’t anticipate this as long lasting.”
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Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack
Not all heart attacks are alike
Did you know that you can have a heart attack without feeling any chest pain? Heart failure and heart disease dont show the same signs for everyone, especially women.
The heart is a muscle that contracts to pump blood throughout the body. A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle doesnt get enough blood. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. When there isnt enough blood flowing to your heart muscle, the affected part can get damaged or die. This is dangerous and sometimes deadly.
Heart attacks happen suddenly, but they normally result from long-standing heart disease. Typically, a waxy plaque builds up on the walls inside your blood vessels that feed the heart muscle. Sometimes a chunk of the plaque, called a blood clot, breaks off and prevents blood from passing through the vessel to your heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack.
Less commonly, something like stress, physical exertion, or cold weather causes the blood vessel to contract or spasm, which decreases the amount of blood that can get to your heart muscle.
There are many risk factors that contribute to having a heart attack, including:
A heart attack is a medical emergency. Its really important to listen to what your body is telling you if you think you might be having one. Its better to seek emergency medical treatment and be wrong than to not get help when youre having a heart attack.
What Is Lack Of Energy
Lack of energy can be described as tiredness, weariness, or fatigue. It can be accompanied by , decreased motivation, or apathy. Lack of energy can be a normal response to inadequate sleep, overexertion, overworking, stress, lack of exercise, or boredom. When part of a normal response, lack of energy often resolves with rest, adequate sleep, stress management, and good nutrition.
Persistent lack of energy that does not resolve with self-care may be an indication of an underlying physical or . Common causes include and asthma, anemia, cancer and its treatments, chronic pain, , infection, depression, eating disorders, grief, sleeping disorders, thyroid problems, medication side effects, alcohol use, or drug use.
Patterns and symptoms of lack of energy may help you discover its cause. If it starts in the morning and lasts all day, it could be due to lack of sleep or depression. If it develops as the day passes and is accompanied by dry skin, , cold sensitivity, and weight gain, it may be caused by an underactive thyroid gland. The combination of shortness of breath and lack of energy could be due to heart or lung problems. The goal of a doctors evaluation is to identify the root cause for the condition.
If your lack of energy is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care.
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What Causes Fatigue And Shortness Of Breath And How To Overcome It
Constant fatigue and shortness of breath are most probably symptoms of an underlying health condition. If the symptoms persist, it is best to consult a physician at the earliest. The following article provides information about the various causes, associated symptoms, and treatment options available for this condition.
Constant fatigue and shortness of breath are most probably symptoms of an underlying health condition. If the symptoms persist, it is best to consult a physician at the earliest. The following article provides information about the various causes, associated symptoms, and treatment options available for this condition.
It is common for a person to experience shortness of breath once in a while, but if the condition persists and is accompanied by fatigue then it is important to get medical help. This condition may develop due to various reasons, but correct diagnosis is essential to determine a treatment plan. It is important not to ignore these symptoms and give them proper treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.
Fatigue And Shortness Of Breath Are Not Signs Of Aging
Have you noticed your energy level is lower and you are more short of breath even when performing the normal activities in your daily life? Dont ignore these feelings, or chalk them up to getting old. This is not a normal part of the aging process. It is your body telling you that it is struggling, maybe even with something as serious as a heart attack.
Shortness of breath and fatigue are frequently experienced by patients prior to having a heart attack. But you may not be aware just how far in advance these symptoms start to show. Its not necessarily a matter of minutes or hours. Many people who survive a heart attack start feeling as if something is not right several weeks, or even months, prior to the episode.
If the heart cannot supply itself with enough blood because of narrowed or blocked arteries, all of your body organs will suffer. These symptoms may progress at such a slow rate that they go unrecognized over time. Ive had many patients tell me they had been less active in the past month or two because of fatigue and shortness of breath, but they just didnt think about it in relation to heart disease until after they had a heart attack.
Phaedra McDonough is a Nurse Practitioner with The Center for Cardiovascular Health at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She can be reached at 802-275-3699.
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About Shortness Of Breath
Sudden shortness of breath, or breathing difficulty , is the most common reason for visiting a hospital accident and emergency department.
It’s also one of the most common reasons people phone 999 for an ambulance.
It’s normal to get out of breath when you’ve overexerted yourself, but when breathlessness comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, it’s usually a warning sign of a medical condition.
The information below outlines the most common reasons for:
- sudden shortness of breath
- long-term shortness of breath
This guide shouldn’t be used to self-diagnose your condition, but should give you an idea of what’s causing your breathlessness.
Chest Pain Pressure And Discomfort
Most people with heart attacks experience some sort of chest pain or discomfort. But its important to understand that chest pains dont occur in every heart attack.
Chest pain is a common sign of a heart attack. People have described this sensation as feeling like an elephant is standing on their chest.
Some people dont describe chest pain as pain at all. Instead, they may say they felt chest tightness or squeezing. Sometimes this discomfort can seem bad for a few minutes and then go away. Sometimes the discomfort comes back hours or even a day later. These could all be signs your heart muscle isnt getting enough oxygen.
If you experience chest pains or tightness, you or someone around you should call 911 immediately.
Pain and tightness can also radiate in other areas of the body. Most people associate a heart attack with pain working its way down the left arm. That can happen, but pain can also appear in other locations, including:
- upper abdomen
American Heart Association , some women may even think their heart attack symptoms are flu-like symptoms.
A heart attack can cause exhaustion due to the extra stress on your heart to try to pump while an area of blood flow is blocked. If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
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Indigestion Nausea And Vomiting
Often people begin experiencing mild indigestion and other gastrointestinal problems before a heart attack. Because heart attacks usually occur in older people who typically have more indigestion problems, these symptoms can get dismissed as heartburn or another food-related complication.
If you normally have an iron stomach, indigestion or heartburn could be a signal that something else is going on.
Treatment Options For Breathing Difficulties
If oxygen levels in your blood are low, shortness of breath may be treated with oxygen administered via a tube that sits under your nostrils. In general, however, shortness of breath is a symptom of an underlying condition, so the best way to treat it is to take medications for that condition as prescribed and to follow any other doctor-approved plan for managing your symptoms.
In cases of advanced pneumonia, COVID-19, or other infections or lung diseases, a ventilator is sometimes necessary to breathe for the body when the lungs are failing. By blowing air, or air with extra oxygen, into the airways and then the lungs, the ventilator supports life, giving the patient extra energy and time to fight off the infection, according to the American Thoracic Society .
If you have a chronic condition that affects the lungs, such as COPD, the ALA suggests that you ask your pulmonologist about pulmonary rehabilitation, a form of outpatient treatment aimed at strengthening your lungs and muscles to improve your breathing and your quality of life.
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Are There Any Treatments For Breathlessness
Treatment will depend on the likely cause of your breathlessness. You will be strongly encouraged to stop smoking if you are a smoker. It will also help if you lose weight if you are overweight.
You will probably be referred to a heart specialist or to a lung specialist, for further tests, depending on the most likely underlying cause. Most cases will be managed by your GP but you may be referred for further investigation and treatment at a hospital.
When To See A Doctor
People who have shortness of breath at rest, chest pain, palpitations, a decreased level of consciousness, agitation, or confusion or have difficulty moving air in or out of their lungs should go to the hospital right away. Such people may need immediate testing, treatment, and sometimes admission to the hospital. Other people should call a doctor. The doctor can determine how rapidly they need to be evaluated based on the nature and severity of their symptoms, their age, and any underlying medical conditions. Typically, they should be evaluated within a few days.
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How Can I Avoid Breathlessness
You will need to find the underlying cause and try to address it if possible. Don’t smoke, or if you do smoke, get help to stop smoking because all common serious causes of breathlessness are more likely to affect smokers. If you maintain a normal weight and do regular exercise, you are less likely to get breathless.
Is Oxygen Level 95 A Normal O2 Saturation Level
There are a lot of factors when it comes to your normal oxygen saturation level, and if you have COPD, you might find that your normal O2 saturation levels are lower than the normal range. While a normal reading for a healthy person is typically between 100% and 95%, a person with COPD may maintain an oxygen level of 94. Talk to your doctor about what a normal oxygen level is for you, and ask about how to measure your normal O2 saturation at home. Whether you experience low oxygen saturation and high heart rate, or high oxygen levels with breathlessness, let your doctor know if you experience shortness of breath. It is especially important if you have normal O2 saturation levels as it may indicate the need for other interventions and treatment.
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What Are Breathing Difficulties Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Feeling as if its hard to catch your breath for a minute or two is not unusual, especially if youve been exercising or doing similar activities such as vigorously cleaning the house or carrying heavy bundles. Thats because when we exert ourselves, our muscles require more oxygen than they do when we are at rest. Our breathing rate momentarily quickens, and our heart beats faster to meet that need.
But if its hard to catch your breath for longer than a few minutes, it may be due to other causes. Oftentimes, those causes are easily fixable or explainable. You may, for example, simply need to loosen a too-tight belt or take it a little easier after spending a long time in bed.
In other cases, however, breathlessness what doctors call dyspnea may signal the presence of an underlying health problem such as a respiratory illness, heart disease, allergies, or obesity.
Exercise: The Key To Breathlessness
The answer to breathlessness from COPD, heart failure and/or skeletal muscle dysfunction is exercise in order to maintain high oxygen levels. In fact, the American College of Cardiology reports that people who have COPD and heart failure together are prime candidates for exercise training. Moreover, skeletal muscle abnormalities can be completely reversed by participating in an exercise training program or a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program.3
Talk to your health care provider for more information about enrolling in cardiopulmonary rehab. If you are ready to start an exercise program on your own, we recommend reading 11 Tips for Exercising with a Chronic Health Condition.
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