Shortness of breath has many causes. It is affecting either the breathing passages and lungs, or the heart or blood vessels. An average 70-kg. adult will breath at an average rate of 14 breaths per min. (at rest). Excessively rapid breathing is also known as “hyperventilation”. Shortness of breath is also referred to as dyspnea.
Dyspnea is classified as a condition either occurring at rest or in association with higher activity, i.e. exercise.
Causes of shortness of breath include asthma, pulmonary embolism, high altitude with lower oxygen levels, pneumonia, pneumothorax, congestive heart failure, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, subglottic stenosis, bronchitis, anemia, lung cancer, inhalation injury, interstitial lung disease, underlying obesity, tuberculosis, emphysema, pulmonary artery hypertension, rib fractures, and aerobic exercise. Shortness of breath can be associated with symptoms such as chest pain, pleurisy, wheezing, bloody sputum, dizziness, fainting, cough, neck pain, and chest injury. Main causes of shortness of breath Most cases of shortness of breath are caused by heart or lung conditions. The heart and lungs are involved in transporting the oxygen to the body tissues and removing carbon dioxide at the same time. Problems with either of these processes affect the patient’s breathing.
Acute shortness of breath (comes on suddenly) has a number of causes:
• Asthma (bronchospasm)
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Cardiac tamponade (excess fluids around the heart)
• Pneumonia (pulmonary infection)
• Sudden blood loss
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in a lung artery)
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Upper airway obstruction, blockage in the breathing passage
Chronic shortness of breath (lasts for weeks or longer) is usually due to:
• Asthma
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Obesity
• Deconditioning
• Heart dysfunction
• Interstitial lung disease
There is a number of other health conditions that can also make it harder to get enough air:
• Lung problems
• Lung cancer
• Pleurisy (inflammation of the chest membrane lining)
• Pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lung/s)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (scarred and damaged lungs)
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs' blood vessels)
• Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells)
• Tuberculosis
• Heart problems
• Cardiomyopathy (problems with the heart muscle)
• Heart arrhythmias (rhythm problems)
• Heart failure
• Pericarditis (swelling of the heart membrane)
Other problems:
• Anemia
• Fractured ribs
• Choking
• Epiglottitis (swelling of part of the windpipe)
• Inhaled foreign object
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Myasthenia gravis (causing muscle weakness)
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