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OVERVIEW

What is shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath is the feeling that you cannot get enough air into your lungs. Sometimes the feeling is worse when you are physically active or when you lie down flat. You may have other symptoms such as a cough or a fever.

If you are experiencing any of these problems, tell your healthcare provider.

SYMPTOMS

When you have shortness of breath, you feel as though you can’t catch your breath. You feel as though you can’t get enough air in your lungs or breathe deeply. You may also feel a tightness in your chest.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What could be causing my shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath can be caused by many things, including the following:

• Asthma
• Other lung diseases, including emphysema, which is a lung disease that is most often caused by smoking
• Heart failure
• Panic attacks
• Allergies

If you are short of breath with a cough and/or fever, you may have a chest infection or pneumonia.  Less common causes of breathing problems are lung cancer, a blood clot in the lungs, air leakage around the lungs and scarring of the lung tissue.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

What tests will my healthcare provider perform?

Your healthcare provider can help find the cause of your breathing problem by asking you questions about your symptoms and performing a physical exam. Your healthcare provider also may order some tests.

To find the cause of your shortness of breath, your healthcare provider may order a chest X-ray. They may also measure the oxygen saturation of your body by placing an oximeter on your finger.

They may also order an electrocardiogram (also called an ECG). During this test, your healthcare provider will have you lie down so your heart can be monitored. The ECG machine creates a picture, or tracing, that shows your heart’s electrical signals.

You may need to have a computerized tomography (CT) scan, which is another type of X-ray. Your healthcare provider may measure the strength of your breathing (called a spirometer) and the oxygen level in your blood. You also may need to have a blood test.

PREVENTION

Can shortness of breath be prevented or avoided?

Whether you can prevent shortness of breath depends on what is causing it. If it is caused by allergies, you may be able to prevent it by identifying your allergy trigger. Once you know what triggers your allergies, you can do your best to avoid it. If your shortness of breath is caused by smoking, stopping can help prevent it. Other causes may not be as easy to avoid. If it is caused by a medical condition such as asthma, inhalers can help.

TREATMENT

What can I do to improve my breathing?

Your healthcare provider will treat the cause of your breathing problem. To help your treatment, if you smoke, you need to stop. Ask your healthcare provider for help. Also, avoid breathing chemicals that can bother your lungs, such as fumes from paint and car exhaust. If your healthcare provider says it’s okay, you should try to get plenty of exercise.

Living with shortness of breath

It can be scary to have frequent shortness of breath. It can be less scary if you learn to control it. Work with your healthcare provider on a customized control plan. Your healthcare provider may suggest medication, an exercise program, breathing techniques, or a combination of these. In some cases, he or she may recommend supplemental oxygen.