Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Although shortness of breath — known medically as dyspnea — is likely to be experienced differently by different people, it's often described as an intense tightening in the chest or feeling of suffocation. Depending on the cause, you may experience shortness of breath just once or have recurring episodes that could become constant.
Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, massive obesity and high altitude all can cause shortness of breath in a healthy person. Outside of these examples, shortness of breath is likely a sign of a medical problem. If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.
- Asthma
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Cardiac tamponade
- Heart attack
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Upper airway obstruction
Heart problems
Other problems
- Anemia
- Broken ribs
- Choking: First aid
- Epiglottitis
- Foreign object inhaled: First aid
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
In the case of chronic shortness of breath, the condition is most often due to:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Heart dysfunction
- Interstitial lung disease
- Obesity
A number of other health conditions also can make it hard to get enough air. These include:
Lung problems
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