Breathlessness : Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Heart Disease
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Anxiety
• Anemia
• Obesity
• Lung condition

What's causing my shortness of breath?

• Chest X-rays, CT scans, or other special imaging tests
• Blood tests
• Lung function tests
• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

• Chest X-rays, CT scans, or other special imaging tests
• Blood tests
• Lung function tests
• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

• Smoking
• Kidney Disease
• Thyroid Disease
• Weight Loss
• Muscular Dystrophy

• Difficulty while breathing
• Noisy breathing
• Increase in pulse rate
• Chest Pain
• Cold and pale skin
• Taking the help of upper chest or muscles while breathing
• Infection in Chest
• Any heart problem

• Do breathing and lung function tests
• Check the number of breaths you take each minute, listen to your chest and watch and feel how your chest moves when you breathe
• Check your heart rate and beating, and check if the liquid is building up in your ankles or lungs
• Check your blood pressure and temperature
• Check your height, weight, height, and body mass index
• Examine your head, neck, and armpits to see if your lymph nodes are swollen
• See your eyes, nails, skin, and joints
• Check your blood oxygen level with a pulse oximeter

If your doctor suspects anxiety or depression, they may ask you to complete a short questionnaire or refer you for further testing like:

• A chest x-ray
• A spirometry test
• An EKG or ECG- if your shortness of breath is intermittent, you may be required to wear a portable recorder for 24 hours or seven days to record your heart's electrical activity
• An echocardiogram - this is a non-invasive ultrasound of your heart that can tell how well it is working
• Blood tests to check for anemia, allergies, or problems with your thyroid, liver, kidney, or heart.

Breathlessness can be assessed by

• Breathlessness on doing heavy exercise
• Breathing problems while walking the slopes

• Stop smoking encouraged :
  • Help improve health
• Weight loss recommended if overweight :
  • Benefits overall health
• Referral to specialist likely :
  • Cardiologist or lung specialist
  • Further testing based on underlying cause
• General Physician manages most cases :
  • Referral to hospital possible for further investigation and treatment

• Did it start recently or with a period of time?
• Moderate or severe abdominal pain.
• How much distance can you cover while walking?
• Are you sick?
• Do you Cough for a longer time?
• Do you smoke?

• If there’s any medical emergency
• Not getting enough oxygen
• Having a high rate of chest pain

• Pursed-lip breathing:
  • Controls shortness of breath
  • Deepens breathing, relaxes muscles
• Sitting forward:
  • Resting elbows while bending forward in a chair
  • Relieves breathlessness
• Standing with supporting arms:
  • Lean on a table for support
  • Eases breathlessness
• Sleeping in relaxed position:
  • Use pillow under head, deep breaths to relax
• Sit under a fan:
  • Relax body, take in fresh air
• Drinking coffee: Provides freshness, relaxes muscles

Change in Lifestyles can cure the breathing problem:

• Stop smoking
• Avoid going to pollutants area
• Lose weight
• Stay healthy and eat well
• For better treatment consult a Doctor