Shortness Of Breath: When To See Your Doctor
Sep 30, 2019Cara Martinez
Shortness of breath can be brought on by many thingssome more serious than others.
Causes can include aerobic exercise, intense physical activity, asthma, anxiety, or being in high altitude. And in some cases, shortness of breath can be the symptom of a lesser-known life-threatening condition.
“When searching for an undetected cause of shortness of breath, we first look to the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Then, we look for 5 signs that will guide us toward the right diagnosis.”
Here, Cedars-Sinai experts explain some of the conditions responsible for shortness of breath and when you should see your doctor.
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Conditions Affecting Brain Drive To Muscles
Anxiety: generalised tiredness can be caused by anxiety. This is due to overactivity of the bodys adrenaline system.
Depression: general weariness and a feeling of generalised tiredness can also be caused by depression.
Note: anxiety and depression are both conditions which tend to cause a sense of tiredness and fatigability rather than true weakness.
Chronic pain: a general effect on energy levels can result from chronic pain. Like anxiety, it stimulates the production of chemical substances in the body which respond to pain and injury. These chemicals lead to feelings of tiredness or fatigue. In chronic pain, true weakness can result, as muscles may not be used due to pain and discomfort.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topicMaking the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- What is your major symptom, weakness or fatigue?
- Have you had these symptoms before? If so:
- Did you see a doctor for an evaluation of your symptoms?
- What was the diagnosis?
- How were your symptoms treated?
Symptoms Of Shortness Of Breath
Some people with breathing problems can feel breathless just by doing normal activities like standing up or walking to another room. See your health care provider if you have shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly or is severe.
Other symptoms that may suggest a serious problem include:
- High fever, chills, and cough
- Acute shortness of breath with/without chest pain
- Swelling in your feet and ankles
- Trouble breathing when you lie flat
- Lips or fingertips turning blue
- Associated with swelling of your tongue with hoarseness or trouble swallowing
- Wheezing, a whistling-type sound when you breathe in or out
- A high-pitched noise when you breathe
- Worsening shortness of breath after using an inhaler
- Breathlessness that doesnt get better after 30 minutes of rest
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Shortness Of Breath And Headache
Are you experiencing shortness of breath and headache? Remember that if your shortness of breath is severe, you should call 911 immediately, as it could be a medical emergency. However, if youre not having significant trouble breathing but still feel out of breath, there could be several factors involved.
This article will talk about how shortness of breath and headache are related, how they differ, and what could be causing you to feel this way. Then, well let you know how to get the appropriate treatment.
What Is The Most Common Cause Of Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath, a symptom known medically as dyspnea, is not a disease or disorder in itself, but can be due to many different causes. That is why it is important to observe when it appears and what symptoms are related to be able to determine more precisely what it is due to.
Do you wonder why I feel like I am short of breath ? In the following FastlyHealarticle we are going to explain the causes that can cause it, likewise, we will also differentiate shortness of breath depending on the related symptoms that you may have.
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Youre Sweating Only At Night
Most people experience night sweats when its hot outside or the temperature in their bedroom is too high. But if youre keeping the temperature in your room cool, using breathable fabrics and bedding, and still sweating excessively at night, you might have a medical concern at hand.
Night sweats can mean an infection such as tuberculosis or the flu, or it can certain types of cancer such as lymphoma, Garshick said. It can also be related to hormonal changes such as menopause or due to a medication. Substance abuse and withdrawal can also lead to night sweats, she added.
Shortness Of Breath Jaw Pain Fatigue: 3 Common Symptoms That Women Shouldnt Ignore
Between working, childcare, and yes, even scheduling doctors appointments for spouses and parents, that fatigue or pesky jaw pain is simply brushed off by many women.
And while many symptoms may be nothing more than a passing discomfort, there are other times when it may be a sign that there is something more serious going on.
Its important for women to understand that theres no duration of a symptom that automatically makes it a red flag other than crushing chest pain, some things can wait, said NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar. There are also very benign explanations for a lot of things as well as more serious explanations.
Whats important is to first, be aware of what youre feeling and take note of whats normal for your body, and second, seek answers from your healthcare provider when something does feel off.
Here are three symptoms that women shouldnt ignore:
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Formation Of Subgroups With Excessive Daytime Sleepiness And Severe Fatigue
There is only a slight connection between excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue thus, a prediction of excessive daytime sleepiness from fatigue and vice versa is not possible. It is, therefore, useful to study excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue as independent factors.
Four patient groups were formed to estimate the risks for excessive daytime sleepiness and severe fatigue. Group 1 consisted of 878 patients in whom neither fatigue nor daytime sleepiness showed excessive levels. Group 2 consisted of 122 patients with excessive daytime sleepiness, and group 3 included 123 patients with severe fatigue. Seventy-four patients of group 4 were characterized as having both severe fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. A ranking of the 4 groups cannot be performed therefore, 3 binary prediction models for excessive daytime sleepiness and severe fatigue were developed individually and in combination.
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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Heart Attacks In Women
Although hard-to-read heart attacks happen to both men and women, they are more common in women. One reason for this is that mens symptoms initially set the standard for recognizing heart trouble. Now a growing body of research shows that women can experience heart attacks differently than men.
Understanding sex differences in heart disease is important. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Although it mostly affects older women, it isnt rare in younger women. One in 10 of all women who die from heart disease or a stroke are under age 65, and this age group accounts for one-third of heart- or stroke-related hospitalizations. Even so, younger women and their doctors dont necessarily suspect a heart attack even when all the signs are there.
In a survey of more than 500 women who survived heart attacks, 95% of them said they noticed that something wasnt right in the month or so before their heart attacks. Two most common early warning signs were fatigue and disturbed sleep. Some women, for example, said they were so tired they couldnt make a bed without resting.
Chest pain, a common early warning sign of heart trouble for men, was further down the list for these women. Those who did have it tended to describe it as pressure, aching, or tightness in the chest, not pain.
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Iii: Anxietyhead Games And Shortness Of Breath
Maybe you feel so stressed that its obvious that the stress is squeezing the breath out of you or maybe its not. If youre not sure, its time to ask yourself some hard questions: could that be me? Could I be choking myself? Almost literally? Dont underestimate this possibility.
Anxiety excessive worry, either too much, or too long, or both13 is a surprisingly potent and amazingly common cause of many odd symptoms. Shortness of breath and chest pain are among the most frequently reported.
Although its common, anxiety is badly neglected as an explanation for many problems. Even though its almost the same thing as stress, many people dont recognize that they are anxious, or they deny it or minimize it. And many people just dont know that shortness of breath can be caused by anxiety! It really can.
Theres no clear explanation for how anxiety causes shortness of breath, chest pain, or any other strange symptom: its just one of those things. And while anxiety can cause shortness of breath as a direct and immediate symptom, it can also probably cause trouble indirectly by chronically eating away at us in other ways, like creating the dysfunctional breathing pattern discussed above.
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Conditions Of Muscle Inflammation
Inflammatory diseases of muscle typically affect older adults and include conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica , polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Some of these conditions respond well to steroids . Unfortunately, as explained above, steroids also cause muscle wasting and weakness.
Conditions of generalised tissue inflammation such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause muscle weakness. In a small proportion of cases of rheumatoid arthritis, muscle weakness and tiredness may be the only sign of the disease for some considerable time.
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Weakness Fatigue Shortness Of Breath
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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 due to 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.
Women need to be especially aware of these symptoms. We are more likely to experience fatigue and loss of breath leading up to a heart attack than men are. While chest pressure remains the most common symptom of heart disease, it is not always the most limiting.
Can I Experience Heart Palpitations During Panic Attacks
The startle effect releases substances in the body such as adrenaline which cause the heart rate to increase and the heart to beat more vigorously, creating a sensation of panic, heart pounding and heart racing. This is the experience of becoming aware of a natural or normal functioning of the nervous system. Anxiety, panic, and startling cause the adrenaline level to rise and create the sensation of palpitation.
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How Does Shortness Of Breathpresent In Muscle Diseases
In muscle diseases the muscles required to breathe can become tired and fatigued resulting in shallow breaths. This can become particularly apparent when lying down, as the muscles have to work harder when in this position. The muscles required to keep airways open can also fail to work effectively, causing interruptions in breathing during sleep, a problem called sleep apnoea. This can result in symptoms such as morning headaches and mood swings that someone may not naturally attribute to muscle weakness.
Signs of shortness of breath caused by muscle weakness can include:
- Increased shortness of breath on exertion or at rest
- Difficulty breathing lying down
- Snoring, gasping or choking at night
- Morning headaches
Shortness Of Breath Vs Normal Breathing
Shortness of breath occurs when your bodys ability to breathe doesnt match the brains orders to breathe. Ordinarily, your airway, lungs, breathing muscles, heart, and blood vessels work together with the brain to maintain sufficient oxygen levels in the body.
Sometimes theres an imbalance between the brains signals to breathe and the ability to breathe. The brain orders the breathing muscles to work harder, and you feel shortness of breath.
In a healthy person, shortness of breath can be caused by:
- Very strenuous exercise
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Allergic reaction
If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see a doctor as soon as possible. Breathlessness may be more serious if its accompanied by:
- Chest pain or pressure
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About Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath is the sensation of not being able to get enough air. It can be either acute shortness of breath , chronic , or intermittent . It is often described as a tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, a feeling of breathlessness, or a sensation of suffocation. While there are many causes of shortness of breath, the most common causes are lung disease, heart disease, or deconditioning . It can also be seen in diseases that cause muscle weakness or disorders where fluid builds up around the lung or in the abdomen . Unexplained shortness of breath should be discussed with your physician to allow appropriate work-up to determine the cause.
- Shortness of breath, or breathlessness, is discomfort or difficulty breathing. The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea.
- Shortness of breath is a common symptom. It may be related to serious diseases, or it could be a result of being out of shape physically.
- Your health care provider should assess whether shortness of breath is treatable with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
- Serious conditions associated with shortness of breath include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Blood clots in the lungs, also called pulmonary embolism
He Noticed He Was Breathless At Night And Went To See His Doctor
Nobody told me that, well I was told that every time I had a heart attack the muscles in my heart died a little or were damaged, and that they wouldn’t recover at that time and up to the present time there is no recovery, although they’re working on it! And…the consultant, no not the consultant, the surgeon that actually did the thing said that he didn’t think he would get rid of my breathlessness completely with this but it should do me. It should prevent any more heart attacks coming and should look after me for… I think approximately 10 years. And that was that. I had a triple bypass and I had a nurse come and take out the stitches and see me here, and then she went ill and I never saw anybody again for about 7′ years. When I started getting very alarmingly puffy, and especially alarming was getting breathless lying down in bed and I thought well this is not right, this is something wrong. And… it was then I went down to the local doctor and it was an emergency appointment so it was a lady doctor, who was very good, and she decided to send me for a scan in the the hospital. And there was an Irish lady doctor there, who had a good look at everything and said there hadn’t been any great deterioration in my heart, but it might be a good thing to see the consultant.
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