What lung issues cause shortness of breath

If you or someone else is having severe difficulty breathing or is turning blue, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

Breathing problems are one of the symptoms of COVID-19. Even if your symptoms are mild, get tested for COVID-19 immediately — use the breathing problems Symptom Checker if you're not sure what to do.

What are breathing problems?

Breathing problems are when you feel you can’t get enough air, your chest feels very tight, you are breathless or you feel like you’re being suffocated.

You might feel short of breath if you are obese or if you have just done some strenuous exercise. It can also happen in extreme temperatures or if you are at high altitude.

If you have breathing problems for any other reason, it is probably the sign of a medical problem.

When should I call an ambulance or go to the emergency department?

You should call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if:

• you are so short of breath you can’t speak in sentences
• you also have pains in your chest, arm or jaw
• you feel faint or sick

Make an appointment to see your doctor or consider going to an emergency department if, as well as being out of breath, you:

• have swollen feet or ankles
• feel more short of breath when you lie down
• have fever, chills and a cough
• have blue lips or fingertips
• make noises when you breathe
• have to put a lot of effort into breathing
• are getting worse

What should I do while waiting for an ambulance?

While you are waiting, try to stay calm. Sit upright and make sure you have someone with you if possible.

If you have asthma, take 4 puffs of your blue or grey reliever puffer. Take 4 more puffs every 4 minutes until help arrives.

What causes breathing problems?

Common causes of feeling short of breath are:

Other causes of suddenly feeling short of breath are:

Some people feel short of breath long term. This can be caused by:

What other symptoms might I have?

If your breathing problems are caused by a cold or chest infection, you might also have a cough, fever, sore throat, sneezing, blocked or runny nose and general congestion.

If the problem is to do with your heart, you might also have chest pain, feel light-headed and nauseous. If you have been diagnosed with angina, take your medication as directed. Wait 5 minutes and take another dose.

If the problem is asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you might also have a lot of mucous, a wheezing sound when you breathe, and your symptoms might get worse with exercise or during the night.

If the problem is a panic attack, you might also have a fast heartbeat, sweating and shaking, nausea, dizziness and a sense of impending doom or danger.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the breathing problems Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How are breathing problems treated?

The type of treatment you need depends on how unwell you feel, how suddenly it has come on and what other conditions you might have.

If you see a doctor, the tests you might have include:

Treatments include:

Can breathing problems be prevented?

If you have any breathing problems, and you smoke you should quit. Call 13 78 48 or go to the Quitline website.

If you have any medication for breathing problems, such as puffers, use them as directed by your pharmacist or doctor. You can also:

Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath. It is a symptom of many conditions that affect the respiratory system.

Shortness of breath can range from mild and temporary to serious and long lasting. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat dyspnea because there can be many different causes.

It is a common problem. Around1 in every 4 peoplewho visit emergency services have dyspnea.

Symptoms of dyspnea

Dyspnea can happen due to overexertion, spending time at high altitudes, or as a symptom of several conditions.

Signs that a person is experiencing dyspnea include:

• shortness of breath after exertion
• labored breathing
• tightness in the chest
• rapid, shallow breathing
• feelings of being smothered or suffocated
• heart palpitations
• wheezing
• coughing

If dyspnea occurs suddenly or if symptoms are severe, it may be a sign of a serious medical condition.

Causes of dyspnea

An episode of dyspnea is not always directly related to an individual’s health. A person can feel short of breath after intense exercise when traveling to a high altitude or through major temperature changes.

However, dyspnea usually relates to health problems. Sometimes, it is just a case of inactivity, and exercise can improve symptoms. However, dyspnea can be a sign of a serious health issue.

If shortness of breath starts suddenly, it is an acute case of dyspnea.

Acute dyspnea could be due to:

• asthma
• anxiety
• pneumonia
• cardiac disease
• foreign objects obstructing airways
• allergic reactions
• anemia
• acute onset weakness such as iron deficiency
• exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide
• heart failure
• hypotension, which is low blood pressure
• pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in an artery to the lung
• collapsed lung
• hiatal hernia
• multiple sclerosis

Dyspnea is also common among people with a terminal illness. If a person experiences shortness of breath for over a month, the condition is called chronic dyspnea.

Chronic dyspnea could be due to:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• heart problems such as pericarditis or cardiomyopathy
• obesity
• interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring of the lung tissue

Lung conditions

Some additional lung conditions may also cause shortness of breath.

Examples are:

• croup
• traumatic lung injury
• lung cancer
• tuberculosis
• pleurisy, an inflammation in the tissues surrounding the lungs
• pulmonary edema, which is when too much fluid collects in the lungs
• pulmonary hypertension, which is when the blood pressure in the arteries to the lungs rises
• sarcoidosis, which is when clusters of inflammatory cells grow in the lungs

Triggers

Environmental pollutants can trigger bouts of dyspnea or make a person more likely to experience it. These include:

• smoking
• inhalation of chemicals and fumes
• living or working in dusty conditions
• living or working around mold

Complications of dyspnea

Dyspnea can be associated with hypoxia or hypoxemia, which is low blood oxygen levels. This can lead to a decreased level of consciousness and other severe symptoms.

If a person experiences recurrent hypoxia, there is arisk ofeither temporary or permanent cognitive impairment.

When to see a doctor about dyspnea

Dyspnea istypicallya medical emergency.

A person should seek immediate medical assistance if they experience any of the following:

• sudden onset of severe dyspnea
• loss of ability to function due to shortness of breath
• chest pain
• nausea

Diagnosis

A doctor will usually be able to diagnose dyspnea based on a complete physical examination of the person, along with a full description of their experiences.

A person will need to explain how and when their attacks of dyspnea started, how long they last, how frequently they occur, and how severe they are.

Doctors may order other diagnostic tests, including:

• X-ray scans: Doctors may use chest X-rays to evaluate the health of the person’s heart, lungs, and related systems.
• Computerized tomography scans: CT scans can produce a more detailed image of the body than X-ray scans.
• Electrocardiograms: This test may help to show any signs of a heart attack or other electrical problems in the heart.
• Spirometry tests: Spirometry tests measure the airflow and the patient’s lung capacity. This can help to pinpoint the type and the extent of an individual’s breathing problems.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of the problem.

A person short of breath due to overexertion will probably get their breath back once they stop and relax.

In more severe cases, a person may require supplemental oxygen. Those with asthma or COPD may have an inhaled rescue bronchodilator to use when necessary. However, not everyone with shortness of breath will have low blood oxygen levels.

For those with chronic conditions, such as COPD, a healthcare professional will work with the individual to help them breathe more easily. This will involve developing a treatment plan that helps to prevent acute episodes and slow down the progression of the overall disease.

Medications

In cases of dyspnea due to asthma, it typically responds well to medications such as bronchodilators and steroids.

When it is due to an infection such as bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics can bring relief.

Other medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and anti-anxiety drugs, can also be effective.

Breathing troubles stemming from COPD can improve with special breathing techniques, such as pursed-lip breathing and breathing muscle-strengthening exercises. People can learn how to do these in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Prevention

Individuals with dyspnea can take measures to improve their overall health and give themselves more breathing room.

These include:

• quitting smoking
• avoiding second-hand smoke where possible
• avoiding other environmental triggers such as chemical fumes and wood smoke
• exercising to strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
• take time adjusting to higher altitudes

Specific groups

Dyspnea can affect specific groups of people in different ways:

• Pregnant people: Mild symptoms of dyspnea are common during pregnancy. This is because pregnancy alters a person’s breathing capacity.
• Older adults: Dyspnea is common among older adults. One Canadian study found that 1 in 5 older adults experienced dyspnea symptoms when climbing stairs or walking uphill.
• Infants: Diseases of the upper respiratory system that cause acute dyspnea areone of the most commoncauses of shortness of breath in infants.

Outlook

The outlook for people with dyspnea depends on the cause.

If the underlying condition can be successfully treated and improved, such as pneumonia or non-severe asthma, then breathing problems may be eliminated or greatly reduced.

However, if shortness of breath is due to serious or chronic diseases that worsen over time, such as chronic heart failure, severe asthma, or COPD, improvement may be limited.

Patients with dyspnea need to work with their healthcare professional to develop and follow a comprehensive treatment plan.

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