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What Can Cause Difficulty Breathing?

Man grasping his chest as doctor checks his heart
The main causes of dyspnea (difficulty breathing) include asthma, panic attack, pneumonia, heart attack, upper airway obstruction, low blood pressure (hypotension), carbon monoxide poisoning, and a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) is an uncomfortable or distressing feeling of having shortness of breath, being unable to inhale enough air, needing to breathe more quickly or deeply, or feeling as if you need to breathe harder. 

Even healthy people can occasionally have difficulty breathing such as during strenuous exercise, when at high altitudes, or in poor air quality, but difficulty breathing can also be a sign there is an underlying medical problem.  

If you have difficulty breathing suddenly and there is no obvious cause, see a doctor right away.

The main causes of difficulty breathing include: 

If difficulty breathing lasts four weeks or longer it may be considered chronic. The five main causes of chronic difficulty breathing include:  

Call 911 and get to a hospital’s emergency department right away (do not drive yourself) if you have difficulty breathing accompanied by symptoms such as: 

  • Chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, and blurred vision (signs of possible heart attack) 
  • Chest pain and leg swelling, especially after long travel (signs of possible pulmonary embolism)
  • Itching, swelling, or rash (signs of possible allergic reaction) 
  • Wheezing (signs of a possible asthma attack) 
  • Fever and cough (signs of possible pneumonia) 
  • Trouble breathing when sleeping or lying down 
  • Lips turning blue
  • Swelling in the feet and ankles 
  • Breathing difficulty that is persistent or interferes with daily activities 
  • Breathing difficulty that comes on suddenly 
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea 

What Is the Treatment for Difficulty Breathing?

Treatment for difficulty breathing depends on the underlying cause. 

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to an asthma attack (flare-up) may include: 

  • Following the asthma action plan from your doctor 
  • Quick-relief medications, such as short-acting, rapid-onset beta2-agonists and/or anticholinergic bronchodilators 
  • Systemic corticosteroids for symptoms that persist

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to emotional distress or a panic attack may include:

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to upper airway obstruction may require hospitalization and may include:

  • Removal of a foreign body
  • Intubation
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) 
  • Cricothyroidotomy
  • Tracheostomy

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

  • High dose oxygen
  • Finding and removing the source of the CO

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to heart attack may include:

  • Angioplasty
  • Artificial heart valve surgery
  • Bypass surgery
  • Cardiomyoplasty
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Stent procedure
  • Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)
  • Medications

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to pneumonia may include:

  • Antibiotics if the cause is bacterial
  • Antivirals if the cause is viral
  • Home treatment
    • Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines and fever reducers
    • Drinking plenty of fluids
    • Rest
    • Use a humidifier
  • In severe cases hospitalization may be needed
    • Intravenous (IV) fluids and/or antibiotics
    • Oxygen therapy
    • Breathing treatments

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) may include:

  • Blood thinners or anticoagulants 
  • Clot dissolvers (thrombolytics) used in life-threatening situations 
  • Removal of the clot via a catheter

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may include:

  • Medications
    • Bronchodilators
    • Anti-inflammatories
    • Combination medicines such as corticosteroids, anticholinergics, and beta-agonists 
    • Antibiotics
    • Vaccinations
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Supplemental oxygen
  • Surgery

Treatment for difficulty breathing to interstitial lung disease may include:

  • Medications such as corticosteroids
  • Oxygen therapy 
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation 
  • Lung transplant

Treatment for difficulty breathing due to obesity/deconditioning may include:

  • Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and weight loss
  • Weight loss medications
  • Bariatric surgery

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References
Image Source: iStock Images

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-patient-with-dyspnea?search=Shortness%20of%20Breath%20&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H3413264743

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/shortness-of-breath/learn-about-shortness-of-breath

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/jul/what-does-shortness-of-breath-feel-like-and-when-is-it-serious/

https://acaai.org/asthma/symptoms/asthma-attack/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564399/

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/carbon-monoxide-poisoning#H10

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack

https://www.lung.org/

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/treatment