Breathing problems causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment

Overview

Breathing problems happen when you feel you can't get enough air into your lungs. They can start suddenly or develop slowly. Many different medical conditions can cause them, so finding the cause is the first step.

Repeated or sudden episodes of breathing difficulty can be a sign of a serious health problem. Get them checked by a health care provider.

Stress and anxiety can also cause breathing difficulty. This is usually temporary and eases when the anxiety passes, but other causes should be ruled out first.

Causes of Breathing Problems

There are numerous causes of breathing problems and it depends upon the organ causing them. The major problems occur in the respiratory and circulatory system which are the main cause of breathing difficulties a patient suffers.

Baby Breathing Problems and there Causes

The triggering factors of lung conditions are given down below:

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the lung tissue. Fluid and pus can collect in the air sacs and cause breathing difficulty, chest pain, fever, and a cough with mucus.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. Attacks are often triggered by things like pollen, smoke and weather changes. The person may have shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage, usually a blood clot, in an artery of the lungs. It can cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and sweating, and it is a medical emergency.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is a group of lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that block airflow and make breathing hard. The patient may have difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and cough.

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension happens when the blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs is higher than normal. It has several causes, including heart and lung diseases. Shortness of breath, chest pain and tiredness are common symptoms.

Croup

Croup is an infection of the upper airway, usually caused by a virus. It causes breathing difficulty and a barking cough. It mostly affects children from 3 months to 5 years old.

Symptoms and Signs

The main symptom of breathing problems is that you feel that you are not able to breathe in a sufficient amount of air to supply all the lung tissue. You feel shortness of breath and you may suffer other signs as well which are:

The person breathes faster to try to get more oxygen.

There may be wheezing, a whistling sound caused by narrowed airways.

The skin may change color.

The lips and fingernails may become blue.

The nostrils may flare as the person works harder to breathe.

The person may suffer excessive sweating as a result.

There may be other symptoms that indicate a serious underlying problem and may suggest that the cause is other than the lung tissue.

Various heart conditions can also cause respiratory difficulties.

Other signs and symptoms associated with breathing problems are:

• tightness in the chest
• barking cough
• a sense of pressure inside the chest
• high grade fever
• sitting up constantly to relieve shortness of breath
• difficulty sleeping at night because of breathing difficulties

How to Diagnose Breathing Problems?

For making a diagnosis of your breathing problems, you need to consult your physician. They will examine you and ask about your history, which may include questions like:

1. For how long have you been suffering from this problem?
2. Is the condition mild or severe?
3. Does this condition aggravate at night time?
4. Does the sitting position affect your problems?
5. Is it associated with other conditions like fever, chest tightness, and cough?

After taking your history, they will examine you and check for signs such as bluish nails, pale skin or blue lips.

Depending upon your physical examination he may ask you to perform one of the following

Diagnostic tests:

1. Complete blood count
2. Chest X-ray
3. Echocardiogram
4. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
5. Pulmonary functions tests
6. Pulse oximetry or blood oxygen tests
7. CT scan

Treatment Options to Treat Breathing Difficulties:

Treatment depends on the cause. Common options include:

Antihistamines:

antihistamines may help people whose symptoms are triggered by allergies, such as to pollen, dust or pet dander. They reduce allergic reactions in the body.

Oxygen therapy:

People with low blood oxygen levels may need oxygen therapy. Your doctor decides how much oxygen you need. Some people use it in the hospital, and some people with long-term lung disease use it at home.

Inhalers

Inhalers deliver medicine straight to the lungs. Rescue inhalers can quickly ease an asthma attack, and other inhalers are used every day to control asthma or COPD. Use them as your doctor prescribes.

Inhaling moist air/ steam

Moist air from a humidifier may make some people more comfortable, for example with a cold. Be careful with hot steam, which can cause burns, especially in children.

Lifestyle changes:

Lifestyle changes can help. Quitting smoking, avoiding triggers and treating underlying problems like sinusitis may ease symptoms. High altitude can make breathing harder because there is less oxygen in the air.

PROGNOSIS

The outlook depends on the cause. Many causes are easily treated, and early diagnosis and treatment generally lead to better results.

When to Seek Medical Help?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if breathing difficulty comes on suddenly or makes it hard to talk, or if someone stops breathing.

See your health care provider if you have breathing problems along with chest tightness, fever, wheezing or a cough with mucus. They can examine you, find the cause and recommend treatment.

The earlier you seek medical help the more are your chances to enjoy a healthy life.

Related Tags: Best Remedies For Breathing Problems

Sources

• Breathing difficulty, MedlinePlus
• Pulmonary Hypertension, MedlinePlus
• Croup, MedlinePlus