Frequent Shortness of Breath? Here Are 16 Causes You Need To Know
Many think that shortness of breath is definitely a symptom of asthma, but it is not certain. These breathing problems can be caused by many other things. So, even people who don’t have asthma can experience shortness of breath. Come on, find out the various conditions that can cause shortness of breath below.
Causes of shortness of breath that appear suddenly
Shortness of breath can appear suddenly, be temporary, and subside quickly. This condition is also known as acute shortness of breath, making the sufferer feel as if he is tied to the body and as if he is suffocating.
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, most of the causes of shortness of breath are due to problems with the heart and lungs. This problem or disturbance occurs because the carbon dioxide is not processed properly.
In most cases, acute shortness of breath will go away when the trigger is gone, or be cured with medication that matches the cause of the shortness of breath.
The following are various causes of acute shortness of breath that often appear suddenly:
1. Choking
When choking due to swallowing or the introduction of a foreign object into your airway, it can result in difficulty speaking and shortness of breath. Try as much as possible to cough to get rid of the object stuck in your throat.
2. Colds
A nose that is blocked with mucus or is even constantly runny (runny) can be the reason you feel short of breath when you have a cold. The reason is, the cold mucus will block the passage of air in and out.
3. Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person inhales too much carbon monoxide. This gas comes from burning gas, oil, gasoline, solid fuels or wood.
Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, does not irritate the skin and eyes, but is very dangerous if there are too many levels in the body.
After inhalation, carbon monoxide can be tightly bound in hemoglobin and will go along with the blood throughout the body. Its toxic nature will cause cell and tissue damage, because the body is deprived of oxygen.
Lack of oxygen from inhaling too much carbon monoxide can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and nausea and vomiting. The longer you inhale the gas, the worse the symptoms will be.
4. Allergies
Without realizing it, allergies can also cause a person to experience shortness of breath. Almost all types of allergies, from allergies to food, animal dander, dust, to allergic reactions triggered by temperature changes, can cause an allergic reaction in the form of shortness of breath.
Allergic reactions are actually harmless. However, some people can experience severe complications if not treated immediately. This condition is known as anaphylactic shock.
5. Cardiac tamponade
Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency when blood or fluid fills the space between the thin membrane covering the heart (pericardium) and the heart muscle. This condition puts very strong pressure on the heart so that it interferes with the work of the heart to pump blood around the body.
Lack of blood supply to the heart and the rest of the body can cause shortness of breath. This condition can also cause various other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest that feels full and depressed, and pain that is concentrated in the left side of the chest.
If not treated promptly, cardiac tamponade can lead to shock, heart failure, failure of other organs, and even death.
6. Pneumonia
Pneumonia or infection of the lungs can also cause you to experience shortness of breath. Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are the main reasons a person can develop pneumonia. As a result, the cells of other organs do not function properly due to lack of oxygen, so that symptoms of shortness of breath can occur.
7. Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lung. In many cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot in an artery that flows to the lungs from the leg.
Clots can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the pelvis, arms, or heart (deep vein thrombosis).
This condition makes blood flow to one or both sides of the lungs very limited. These two conditions are often the cause of a person experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
8. Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a condition in which there is a collection of air flowing between the lungs and the chest wall. The collected air can compress the lungs and cause the lungs to collapse (collapse).
9. Anxiety disorders
Symptoms of shortness of breath also occur in people with psychological disorders, especially anxiety disorders. Anxiety puts your body into shape fight-or-flight and eventually trigger panic attacks. Panic attacks eventually make it difficult for you to breathe, nausea, and even feel like fainting.
The cause of frequent shortness of breath in the long term
Apart from being acute, shortness of breath can also be chronic. This means that the shortness of breath that you experience can recur and occur in the long run.
Chronic shortness of breath usually doesn’t appear suddenly, but it can last longer, such as a month. Chronic shortness of breath will usually get worse over time. In addition, sufferers will often experience symptoms of difficulty breathing even if they are only doing activities that are not too strenuous.
Some of the things that often cause chronic shortness of breath include:
1. Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that is the most common cause of shortness of breath. This disease occurs when the airways (bronchi) become swollen, narrow, and continue to produce excess mucus. The condition of narrowing or tightening of the bronchi is also called bronchospasm.
2. Lung problems
Complaints of shortness of breath are closely related to diseases that affect the lungs. If your lung function is impaired, of course you will not be able to breathe as easily as usual. Some chronic lung diseases that cause shortness of breath include:
- Lung cancer
- Tuberculosis or TB
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Sarcoidosis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Interstitial lung disease
3. Hiatal hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition that occurs when a portion of the upper stomach protrudes into the opening of the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the stomach from the chest).
The diaphragm muscles help prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus. If you have a hiatal hernia, it will make it easier for stomach acid to rise.
The increase in stomach acid into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This disease is one of the complaints of ulcers, and can cause complications in the stomach and throat, including the onset of symptoms of shortness of breath.
4. Obesity
People who are overweight or obese often complain of shortness of breath. Excess fat around your stomach and chest can squeeze your lungs, making them work harder to expand.
The heart also has to work harder to pump blood to get through the blood vessels that are clogged with cholesterol. As a result, this condition can be the cause of a person experiencing shortness of breath.
5. Heart problems
Not only interference with lung function. Heart problems can be the cause of shortness of breath. One of them is congestive heart failure. This disease is caused by narrowing or blockage that occurs in the coronary arteries.
Other heart problems that can cause shortness of breath include:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmia
- Pericarditis
6. Sleep apnea
Sleep apneais a sleep disorder characterized by stopping breathing for a while. Cause sleep apnea differentiated by type, namely:
- Obstructive sleep apnea, caused by relaxing the throat muscles during sleep, thus narrowing the airway.
- Central sleep apnea, occurs due to the failure of the brain to send signals to the respiratory tract muscles.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome, namely respiratory disorders that occur when a person has obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea all at once.
Sleep apnea not only causes shortness of breath during sleep, but also makes sufferers often snore and wake up at night.
Besides, sleep apnea it can also lead to problems with the removal of carbon dioxide from the body due to disruption of the diaphragm, also known as paradoxical breathing.
7. Other problems cause shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is also closely related to the circulation of oxygenated fresh blood to the lungs. If blood circulation is disturbed, the lungs cannot get enough fresh blood intake so that their work will also not be optimal.
Some conditions and diseases related to blood circulation that can cause shortness of breath are:
- Anemia
- Broken rib
- Epiglottitis (swelling of part of the throat)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness
If you experience shortness of breath, don’t panic. Immediately visit the nearest health center or hospital for help.
You should also immediately consult a doctor if you experience unusual causes and symptoms of shortness of breath. Especially if the symptoms are very debilitating and interfere with your activities.
As mentioned above, there are many causes for shortness of breath. Ranging from minor, such as choking, to serious problems with your heart and lungs.
To find out the exact cause, doctors can diagnose shortness of breath in the form of a physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging tests. The sooner you are diagnosed, the easier the treatment will be. You can also avoid a number of dangerous complications.
