Shortness of breath is a common and often distressing symptom of many diseases and conditions. The woodlands shortness of breath can be caused by several different things, including chronic lung disease, heart failure, asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, lung cancer, and several others.
Here is everything you need to know about shortness of breath.
What is shortness of breath?
Shortness of breath is feeling like your breathing is shallow and fast. Shortness of breath can make you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint. It is also an early sign that you are having a heart attack or a heart failure event. Some different health problems may cause shortness of breath. These include;
Sinusitis
Most people suffer from sinusitis. This is inflammation of the sinuses, cavities inside the bones that contain two pairs of small air sacs called the paranasal sinuses. When these sacs become infected with bacteria or viruses, they fill with pus and may become blocked. This can cause pressure on the brain and other organs in your head, leading to headaches and severe pain in your face or throat.
Lung cancer
The shortness of breath can be caused by lung cancer. This is a disease that affects the lungs and airways. It can be fatal if it is not treated early on. The symptoms include coughing up blood or bloody sputum, chest pain, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD roots from long-term exposure to environmental pollution or cigarette smoke. It affects the airways in your lungs, so you have difficulty breathing properly even after you remove the source of the irritant from your surroundings. The symptoms include cough, sputum production, chest tightness, and wheezing.
Heart disease
Heart disease is another common cause of shortness of breath that doesn’t improve with rest or lying down, especially if you feel like you are getting worse over time. This can be caused by congestive heart failure, which narrows the blood vessels around your heart and makes it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body, including the lungs, where they all need oxygen.
Respiratory infections
A bacterial lung infection such as pneumonia or bronchitis can make breathing difficult and lead to shortness of breath even when resting or lying down. The bacteria multiply in the air sacs between your lungs, making it hard for them to carry oxygen into your bloodstream through their walls (alveoli).
Best treatment for shortness of breath
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If a person has asthma or COPD, they may need to take medications and use equipment such as an inhaler or nebulizer to help their lungs work properly. If there is no underlying condition that causes shortness of breath, it is likely caused by poor breathing habits or poor physical conditioning (exercising regularly). In this case, the patient should focus on improving their physical fitness so that they can be more active during their day-to-day activities.
If you are having shortness of breath, it is crucial to seek medical attention. A health specialist will first identify the cause of your shortness of breath to treat the underlying cause. This condition should be treated as an emergency as it can lead to death. If you or your loved one is experiencing shortness of breath, reach out to experts at Northwest Houston Heart Center now.
