What is shortness of breath—dyspnea? What causes it, and what are its symptoms?

What is dyspnea?

Dyspneais a medical term for shortness of breath, sometimes described as “air hunger”. It is an uncomfortable sensation.

Shortness of breath may vary in severity and duration. Because dyspnea can have many causes, diagnosis and treatment may sometimes be difficult.

Shortness of breath is a very common medical complaint. Some studies show that of every 4 people visiting a physician, 1 has some degree of shortness of breath.

In this article, we will discuss:

• Causes of dyspnea,
• Conditions triggering dyspnea, and
• When to see a doctor.

What causes dyspnea?

Shortness of breath may not always be directly related to health status. It can also occur after intense exercise, at high altitude or when body temperature rises significantly.

Nevertheless, shortness of breath is frequently associated with health problems and may indicate serious conditions.

The most common causes include asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, pneumonia and psychogenic problems such as anxiety.

Shortness of breath that begins suddenly is called acute dyspnea .

Acute dyspnea may develop because of:

• Asthma
• Anxiety
• Pneumonia
• An obstructing object entering the airway
• Allergic reactions
• Anemia, particularly sudden blood loss
• Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide
• Heart failure
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Pulmonary embolism (a clot blocking a pulmonary artery)
• Lung collapse (a part of the lung failing to ventilate because it has collapsed or closed)
• Hiatal hernia (part of the stomach and intestines herniating toward the chest cavity)

Note: COVID-19 resulting from novel coronavirus infectioncauses pneumonia in approximately %10-20 of patients, and dyspnea is an important symptom of this disease.

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Shortness of breath lasting longer than 1 month is called chronic dyspnea .

Chronic dyspnea may develop because of:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Heart problems
• Obesity
• Interstitial lung disease (a disease in which lung tissue loses elasticity)

Some other lung problems also cause shortness of breath

Examples include:

• Lung cancer
• Previous lung diseases
• Tuberculosis
• Pleural effusion (fluid between the lung membranes preventing lung expansion)
• Pulmonary edema (excess or abnormal fluid in the lungs)
• Sarcoidosis (a disease characterized by abnormal accumulation of inflammatory immune cells in the lungs)

Shortness of breath is particularly associated with certain heart problems:

• Cardiomyopathy (a group of diseases affecting heart muscle)
• Heart rhythm problems
• Heart failure
• Pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart)

What triggers dyspnea?

Environmental pollutants such as chemicals, fumes and dust may make breathing much harder for people with chronic dyspnea, for example COPD.

Exposure to allergens such as pollen or mold, or cigarette smoke, may trigger a dyspnea attack in people with asthma.

Some air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, can be controlled and avoided.

All these conditions can make breathing much harder. Efforts to create smoke-free, clean-air spaces are therefore very valuable.

What is COPD?

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious health problem developing against a background of chronic bronchitis and emphysema that deserves close attention. It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease causing airway obstruction. It is the disease group causing the most deaths after heart disease and cancer. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, sputum and wheezing. It often results from long-term exposure to irritating gases or particles, particularly cigarette smoke. People with COPD risk developing heart disease, lung cancer and various other conditions. Not everyone with dyspnea has COPD, but in people with COPD, smoking is the underlying cause in %90.

When should you see a doctor?

Sometimes shortness of breath may signal a life-threatening condition.

Emergency medical treatment is needed if someone has more than one of these symptoms:

• Sudden-onset shortness of breath
• Inability to carry out physical activities because of shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Nausea

Not every case requires immediate medical treatment, but shortness of breath can indicate serious medical problems.

Particularly those with a history of shortness of breath should seek a doctor for:

• A change in breathing ability
• Beginning to struggle with daily activities because of breathing problems
• Shortness of breath while lying down or resting
• Swelling of the feet and ankles
• Fever, chills and cough
• Wheezing.

- In our next article we have shared information on diagnosing, treating and preventing shortness of breath.