What is Dyspnea?

Shortness of breath is termed as dyspnea and it is a temporary condition that passes away after a while. This is not an illness if it lasts only for a few minutes and is not a serious condition which requires treatment. It can be described as tightening of the chest or feeling suffocated but this can vary from person to person and the cause. For example a person who has asthma will experience dyspnea through coughing or wheezing and a person suffering from heart issues will experience dyspnea by finding it difficult to breath.  An adult who is about 70 kgs should breathe on an average around 14 breaths in a minute.

Physical exercise, over exertion of the body, obesity, high temperature and high altitude can cause dyspnea. If the shortness of breath occurs due to these reasons it will last for couple of minutes and does not indicate any illness. But if a person is suffering from shortness of breath due to certain factors other than the causes mentioned above, it could signify a serious problem of the lungs or heart which requires medical attention and treatment.

Shortness of breath can cause the following symptoms – pain in the chest or neck, anxiety, fainting, light headedness, wheezing, coughing and chest injury.

The doctor will examine the patient and try to classify dyspnea on basis of its occurrence, whether it occurs when the person is doing some physical activity or while the person is at rest. And the doctor will also study if dyspnes occurs slowly or suddenly. Basis these symptoms the doctor will be in a position to understand the cause of dyspnea and prescribe medications.

Causes of dyspnea:

In most of the cases dyspnea is caused due to some heart or lung illnesses which are – lung cancer, pulmonary edema ( extra fluid in the lungs), pulmonary high blood pressure (high blood pressure in the blood vessels inside the lungs), tuberculosis, heart failure, pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane which is around the heart) , cardiomyopathy (issues with the heart muscles) etc. The heart and lungs are responsible to supply oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. If any of these activities are not performed properly it can cause difficulty in breathing.

The most common factors causing shortness of breath are:
• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Pneumonia
• Physical deconditioning
• Myocardial ischemia
• Obesity
• Allergies
• Inhalation of a foreign object
• Panic attacks
• Stress

Acute (sudden) shortness of breath could be due to the various factors;

• Pulmonary embolism  which is blood clotting in an artery in the lungs
• Pneumonia
• Low blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Asthma
• Rapid blood loss
• Blockage of the upper airway

Chronic shortness of breath i.e breathing difficulty which lasts for few weeks or more could be due to the following factors.

• Asthma
• Dysfunction of the heart
• Interstitial lung problem 
• Obesity
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder

Developing shortness of breath due to physical activity/ over exertion or not being in good physical condition does not require any treatment since this can managed with regular exercise and being healthy .

Signs of Dyspnea:

Some of the signs of dyspnea are;

• Audible heavy breathing

• Flaring of nostrils

• Wheezing

• Anxious and troubled facial expression

• Protruding of the chest or abdomen

• Coughing

• Dizziness

• Chest pain

Medical care for dyspnea:

A person will need immediate medical care if he/she is undergoing the following issues;

• Sudden shortness of breath and unable to function properly

• Shortness of breath along with chest pain, dizziness and nausea

These symptoms can indicate heart attack or pulmonary embolism. 

A person should meet the doctor for treatment if he/she has shortness of breath along with;

• Swelling on feet and ankles

• High temperature, shivering and cough

• Wheezing

• Difficulty in breathing while lying flat

• Or worsening of the breathing problem

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Lifestyle changes to control dyspnea:

Certain lifestyle changes that can control the shortness of breath are;

• Quite smoking as this can reduce the risk of developing heart and lung disorders
• Avoid breathing polluted air as much as possible 
• If the patient is overweight, reduce excessive weight slowly in a systematic manner
• If the patient is suffering from any illness take the necessary medication and treatment and remain healthy
• Consult the doctor and work on a proper treatment plan to be followed if the symptoms get worse
• Avoid high altitudes which is more than 5000 feet, especially if the person has had a past experience of breathing issues in a higher altitude

• If a person makes use of supplemental oxygen equipment, make a regular check to see if the equipment is functioning properly and there is sufficient supply of oxygen.

·        Treatment for dyspnea:

Since the causes and the medical condition of the patient differ, the treatment process will also be different.  For instance if a person is having shortness of breath due to asthma then the doctor will prescribe various inhalers to relive the patient from the breathing issues.

The other treatment options are more for curing the cause rather than dyspnea. For instance if a person has pulmonary embolism disorder, then treatment options available are blood thinners and surgery.

The doctor will suggest the following measures to relieve the patient from dyspnea symptoms;

• Take in extra oxygen
• Sit near a fan
• Reduce the room temperature and breath cooler air
• Breath clear and clean air by opening the window or using a humidifier
• Getting the feel of being in a more open environment by opening the window and letting the fresh air flow in, seeing the outside view or being in a vacant room
• Keep the head elevated while lying on the back by making use of pillows so that the person is almost in a sitting position 
• Practicing techniques to keep the mind away from all the stress like yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques
• Taking pain killers to get relief from pain
• Taking anti anxiety medicines to manage anxiety and stress 

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