Syndrome of shortness of breath causes. What to do if there is not enough air and it is hard to breathe? Difficulty breathing is divided into two types

The feeling of lack of air is one of the most common symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia and panic disorder. VSD with respiratory syndrome can cause fear, but in itself does not lead to disability or death. In this article, we will try to figure out why "I'm suffocating" or "I can't take a full breath" - a frequent complaint of people with VVD, and also consider the cause of breathing problems.

Hyperventilation syndrome - what is it?

Hyperventilation syndrome is a form of autonomic disorder, the main symptom of which is shortness of breath. Moreover, this disorder is in no way associated with diseases of the heart, bronchi and lungs.

Literally, "hyperventilation syndrome" means increased breathing. To date, the syndrome of shortness of breath is considered one of the common symptoms of a disorder in the activity of the autonomic nervous system (other symptoms may be present at the same time).

Causes of hyperventilation with a feeling of lack of air

Breathing is such a function in the human body that is under the control of not only the autonomic, but also the somatic nervous system. In other words, the emotional state of a person directly depends on the work of the respiratory system and vice versa. Stress, depression, or just temporary life difficulties can lead to shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of oxygen.

Sometimes the cause of respiratory attacks that accompany VVD can be the unconscious tendency of people to imitate the signs of certain diseases (we are talking about suggestibility - symptoms, for example, “I can’t breathe deeply”, are picked up by a person after staying on the Internet and studying forums) and its further manifestation in everyday behavior (eg, coughing and shortness of breath).

There is also such a seemingly unlikely reason for the development of breathing difficulties in adulthood: observation in childhood of people with shortness of breath (patients with bronchial asthma, etc.). A person's memory is able to "fix" some events and memories and reproduce them in the future, even years later. As a rule, for this reason, breathing difficulties are observed in artistic and impressionable people.

As you can see, in each of the cases described, the psychological component of the occurrence of breathing problems in NCD comes first. Those. once again we see that we are talking about neurosis.

Respiratory failure in VVD: mechanism of development

The mechanism of hyperventilation syndrome itself is complex and, to date, a complete concept of the mechanism of its development has not been formulated to the end. Most researchers agree that being in a stressful situation, in a state of fear, overwork or anxiety, a person can unconsciously change the depth of breathing and its rhythm. Trying to provide the muscles with an additional flow of oxygen, a person, as if before a sports competition, tries to breathe faster. Breathing becomes frequent and shallow, but additional oxygen remains unclaimed. This leads to subsequent unpleasant and frightening sensations of lack of air in the lungs.

Moreover, the occurrence of such disorders leads to a state of constant anxiety and fear, which ultimately contributes to the emergence of panic attacks, which aggravate the course of the already “difficult” hyperventilation syndrome.

Improper breathing leads to changes in the acidity of the blood: frequent shallow breaths lead to a decrease in the level of carbon dioxide in the body. The normal concentration of CO2 in the body is necessary to maintain the walls of blood vessels in a relaxed state. Lack of carbon dioxide leads to muscle tension, vasoconstriction - the brain and body begin to experience oxygen deficiency.

It is believed that for the occurrence and development of hyperventilation syndrome, the presence of two factors is sufficient:
1. Individual predisposition (for example, physical fatigue; the experience of "wrong breathing" when the interruption of breathing was accompanied by discomfort; etc.);
2. The impact of various external, so to speak, circumstances (stress, pain, infection, etc.).
At the same time, even if the starting causes are eliminated (what triggered the increased activity of the respiratory organs), hyperventilation continues to function. Thus, a "vicious circle" is formed, which begins to circulate autonomously. And the symptoms can go on for a long time.

Symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome

Symptoms of respiratory failure are varied, and in any particular case, the breathing problem manifests itself in different ways. Respiratory pathology can be accompanied by muscular, emotional disorders, and typical symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome are often "disguised" as signs of diseases of the heart, lungs and thyroid gland (angina pectoris, bronchitis, goiter, asthma).

Important! Respiratory failure in VVD is not at all associated with diseases of the internal organs and their systems! However, a direct link between hyperventilation syndrome, nervous disorders and panic attacks has been traced and proven.

One way to reduce the feeling of shortness of breath during an SVD attack is to breathe into a paper bag.

This purely psychological problem can be manifested by the following symptoms:

Feeling short of breath, "incomplete" or "shallow" breath
Feeling of constriction in the chest
Yawning, coughing
"Lump in throat", difficulty breathing
Heartache
Finger numbness
Fear of stuffy and cramped rooms
Fear of death
Feelings of fear and anxiety, tension
Dry cough, wheezing, sore throat

Important! In the presence of asthma, it is difficult for patients to breathe on exhalation, and with hyperventilation, problems arise on inhalation.

In people with VVD, respiratory symptoms may be the main complaint, or they may be mild or even absent.

What are the dangers of breathing problems with VVD

The feeling of lack of air in VVD and neuroses is an unpleasant symptom, but not so dangerous. And you need to treat an unpleasant symptom as a way by which the body says that it is difficult for it to cope with stress or overwork.

However, the difficulty of diagnosing this imbalance in the work of the autonomic nervous system can lead to a false diagnosis and, accordingly, the appointment of an incorrect (even dangerous!) Treatment.

Timely help with hyperventilation syndrome is very important: otherwise, there may be problems with cerebral circulation, the proper functioning of the digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Also, a person’s unwillingness to admit that he has hyperventilation syndrome can become an obstacle on the way to recovery: he stubbornly continues to “attribute” more serious health problems to himself. It is very difficult to get rid of breathing problems in such a situation.

Psychology for the treatment of feelings of lack of air in VVD

Providing a person with an intelligible form of information about the change in the state of his body, teaching self-control during exacerbations, changing a person's attitude to his ailment - these are just some aspects of psychotherapeutic treatment.

Adults make, on average, 15-17 breaths per minute. Most of us do not think about how we breathe in and out. But there are people who often feel short of breath. Why do asthma attacks occur?

How do asthma attacks manifest?

Violation of the frequency and depth of breathing, which is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, is called dyspnea. Although this condition is more commonly known as shortness of breath. If attempts to get enough air into the lungs do not bring satisfaction, an asthma attack begins. This condition is life threatening.

For some, shortness of breath appears even with very light physical exertion, others are disturbed mainly at night. A person may only have difficulty inhaling or exhaling. Dyspnea does not allow some unfortunate people to lie down - in a horizontal position, they begin to have asthma attacks. All this may be accompanied by general weakness, cough, nausea, chest pain, and palpitations. The manifestations and consequences of asthma attacks depend on the cause of the lack of air.

Lack of air in respiratory diseases

One of the common causes of lack of air is the presence of any respiratory diseases in a person.

Normally, when we inhale, oxygen enters our body, and when we exhale, carbon dioxide is removed. But if a person has a defeat or respiratory infection, eg bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, then the respiratory movements encounter obstacles. As a result, the oxygen that enters the lungs cannot enter the blood in sufficient quantities. There are bouts of suffocation.

With bronchial asthma, the lumen of the small bronchi and bronchioles narrows, and with chronic emphysema, the elasticity of the lung tissue is lost. Therefore, with these diseases of the respiratory system, it is difficult for a person to exhale.

We are looking for causes of lack of air in the heart

Lack of air is often caused by diseases that lead to a state of heart failure. With heart diseases (angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction), dyspnea appears even at rest and in the supine position. In patients with cardiac asthma, sharp attacks of suffocation often occur at night. This makes it difficult for the person to breathe.

Shortness of breath due to obesity

With obesity, adipose tissue accumulates not only on the visible parts of the body, but also on the internal organs. Due to this additional load, the lungs cannot provide normal respiratory movements, and the heart becomes unable to make effective contractions.

"Under the load" of excess weight, the supply of oxygen to the tissues decreases and dyspnea develops.

Shortness of breath due to stress hormone

Often the cause of lack of air is severe stress or a panic attack. The fact is that strong emotional arousal is accompanied by the release of the hormone adrenaline into the blood. It speeds up the metabolism in the body, while increasing the oxygen consumption of the tissues. Therefore, in stressful situations or during panic attacks, a person may feel a lack of air.

Which are accompanied by a lack of inspiration, occur in people with hysterical syndrome.

Other causes of shortness of breath

A feeling of lack of air can be a sign of anemia, which develops with iron deficiency. Iron is a constituent of the hemoglobin molecule. It is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body.

The inability to make normal breathing movements occurs in people with chest injuries, such as broken ribs. In these cases, attempts to take a breath cause a sharp pain.

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of thyroid disease. Nodular thickening in the neck sometimes leads to partial blockage of the airways.

Questions from readers

the tongue is swollen and stretched out. It blocks the throat October 18, 2013, 17:25 the tongue is swollen and stretched out. it covers the throat. when tilted, it falls on the tongue. what is it? and how to cure it? Thanks.

In healthy people, sensations of lack of air occur with increased physical activity. This is because the heart is actively pumping blood, and the muscles require a lot of energy and oxygen. As a result, breathing becomes more frequent, which makes it possible to compensate for the lack of oxygen. But often asthma attacks occur with relatively little physical activity, and a person does not have the above diseases. This means that his physical form is very bad, and it's time to take care of it.

The feeling of lack of air is a common pathological phenomenon that is characteristic of a large number of diseases, including the cardiovascular system. The systematic occurrence of such a symptom may indicate the presence of severe pathologies, which, in the absence of timely treatment, will lead to complications. In view of this, you should be aware of the most common causes and treatments for such a disorder.

The feeling of lack of air can occur with many diseases.

A condition characterized by a feeling of lack of oxygen is called (or dyspnea). When shortness of breath, the patient has a feeling of squeezing the chest, there are difficulties in breathing.

In a healthy person, normally, breathing occurs imperceptibly, and does not cause any difficulties.

The main cause of shortness of breath is hypoxia, a pathological phenomenon in which the amount of oxygen entering the brain tissue decreases.

Due to the lack of air, the respiratory center is activated, which increases the activity of the lungs, increasing the frequency of breathing. Due to this, the volume of oxygen entering the lungs increases, and the lack of air in the brain is compensated.

In some cases, shortness of breath is considered a physiological norm. This is typical for shortness of breath that occurs for a short period of time against the background of physical exertion, stressful situations. Pathological shortness of breath is characterized by a persistent character, high regularity.

Thus, the feeling of lack of air is the body's reaction to oxygen deficiency in the brain tissues.

Types of shortness of breath

In medicine, there are several options for classifying dyspnea. The most common classification is considered depending on the stage of the respiratory process at which difficulty occurs.

There are such types:

Inspiratory. Pathology manifests itself at the moment of inspiration. It is considered the most common type of shortness of breath. It occurs due to narrowing of the trachea or bronchi, as well as when external pressure is applied to them (for example, with pneumothorax).
expiratory. Accompanied by a feeling of lack of oxygen when exhaling. It occurs due to narrowing of the small bronchi. It appears mainly in chronic lung lesions.
Mixed. Shortness of breath occurs both during inhalation and exhalation. Occurs against the background of diseases of the cardiovascular system, with some neurological disorders, chronic diseases of the respiratory tract.

Determining the type of shortness of breath is an important diagnostic criterion, by determining which, the doctor can find out the possible cause of the disorder and make a preliminary diagnosis.

Symptomatic manifestations

Shortness of breath may cause heart palpitations

The clinical picture with shortness of breath differs depending on the provoking factors and the characteristics of the body of a particular patient. The degree of intensity and duration of the feeling of lack of oxygen may differ.

Shortness of breath is characterized by the following symptoms:

Feeling of tightness and heaviness in the chest
Pain and burning in the lungs
Increased sweating
Coughing fits
Suffocation
Redness of the skin of the face

In some diseases, attacks of shortness of breath are accompanied by hearts in the side. In addition, the pathological phenomenon can be combined with psychogenic symptoms: anxiety, worry, fear, in some cases panic. This is typical for severe pathologies of the heart.

Signs and symptoms of lack of oxygen can vary in intensity and in most cases are individual.

The reasons

The feeling of lack of air can occur with a number of cardiovascular diseases.

The occurrence of shortness of breath is not always a consequence of pathology. It must be borne in mind that often the feeling of lack of oxygen occurs for natural reasons.

These include:

Low vital capacity

Staying in a room with low oxygen concentration

Exposure to steam or other gaseous substances

Overweight

A common cause of shortness of breath is smoking. As a rule, in smokers, the lack of oxygen is accompanied by intense coughing and suffocation.

An acute feeling of lack of air occurs in many diseases. The most common option is shortness of breath in heart disease. The main function of the cardiovascular system is to transport blood to tissues and organs. In diseases, this function is impaired, resulting in oxygen deficiency and shortness of breath.

The symptom is provoked by such heart diseases:

Also, a feeling of lack of oxygen often occurs against the background of congenital or acquired. In combination with severe pain, shortness of breath occurs against the background.

In heart disease, the intensity of shortness of breath increases as the pathology develops. In the early stages, the patient does not experience any discomfort, since breathing difficulties occur only with increased stress. In the future, breathing becomes more difficult and the patient experiences a feeling of lack of air even while at rest.

For heart diseases, orthopnea is characteristic - a pathological phenomenon in which shortness of breath occurs when the patient lies on his back. In the most severe cases, the patient is unable to breathe while lying down. This is due to stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation against the background of heart failure.

Other diseases accompanied by shortness of breath:

Vegetative-vascular dystonia
Anemia
Bronchial asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Scoliosis of the thoracic spine
Tuberculosis
Pneumothorax
Thyrotoxicosis

In general, the causes of shortness of breath are diverse, and in most cases are associated with a pathological process occurring in the body.

Diagnostic measures

An ECG is used to diagnose heart disease associated with shortness of breath.

Any breathing difficulties require medical attention. The initial stage of providing assistance is determining the cause of the violation, that is, making a diagnosis.

First of all, the patient is examined with related procedures. An important diagnostic value for respiratory disorders is the auscultation procedure - listening to the lungs with a phonendoscope.

Local palpation is also performed, the purpose of which is to identify concomitant pathological manifestations, for example, pain syndrome, tissue edema.

The nature of further examination depends on the preliminary diagnosis. If heart disease is suspected, a number of ancillary procedures are performed.

These include:

Blood test for level and glucose
Coronary angiography

In the absence of symptoms from the cardiovascular system, diagnosis is reduced to determining another cause of shortness of breath. A respiratory examination is carried out.

At the initial stage, auscultation is performed and the vital capacity of the patient's lungs is determined. In most chronic pathologies, in which there is a feeling of lack of air, the VC index is below normal.

To make a diagnosis, the following procedures are prescribed:

Radiography or fluoroscopy of the lungs
Fluorography
CT scan
Bronchoscopy
lung ultrasound
Pleural puncture (for suspected pleurisy, pneumothorax, tumor diseases)

The diagnosis of shortness of breath is made on the basis of the results of the examination, which includes a number of tests and laboratory procedures.

What is dangerous violation

If shortness of breath occurs against the background of heart disease, then hypertensive crises can become a complication

Shortness of breath in itself does not pose a significant threat. This condition brings discomfort, may be aggravated by other symptoms, but is not life-threatening. The threat is posed by diseases that cause a respiratory disorder.

A common side effect of shortness of breath is hyperventilation syndrome. The violation is characterized by the development of hypoxia (oxygen starvation), which occurs due to a decrease in the level of carbon dioxide.

Due to the lack of carbon dioxide, hemoglobin is not able to separate the attached oxygen molecules, which is why the tissues are deficient.

The greatest danger to a person is the feeling of lack of oxygen that occurs against the background of COPD and heart failure. Such diseases cannot be cured completely, as they lead to irreversible changes in the functioning of organs. The therapeutic process is aimed solely at maintaining the body and prolonging the life of the patient.

Possible complications include:

Inflammation of the lungs (due to insufficient oxygen supply to the lower parts of the organ)
Chronic
Pulmonary edema
Regular
Otolaryngological diseases (with constant mouth breathing)

Many diseases accompanied by shortness of breath, in the absence of timely treatment, lead to the development of severe complications, some of which pose a direct threat to the patient's life.

Treatment

A number of drugs are used to relieve shortness of breath.

The method of treating shortness of breath directly depends on the causes of its development. The main therapeutic process is aimed at eliminating the disease that provokes a respiratory disorder.

In heart failure, as well as other pathologies of the cardiovascular system, patients are prescribed medication. It is aimed at maintaining the basic physiological indicators of the body within the normal range.

Groups of drugs used in therapy:

Cardiotonics ()
Vasodilators
Means for maintaining vascular tone
Blood-thinning drugs
Antithrombotic agents

In heart failure, in severe cases, surgical therapy is prescribed. It can be carried out by installing, eliminating defects in the valvular apparatus of the heart, and introducing aortic stent grafts.

During the treatment period, the patient is recommended to regularly attend the procedure of oxygen therapy. This method is aimed at increasing the concentration of oxygen in the body. Due to this, hypoxia is eliminated, and shortness of breath becomes less pronounced. This method is used mainly for respiratory diseases, but is also indicated for patients with heart pathologies.

In general, the treatment of oxygen deficiency is a complex process, including medication, visits to physiotherapy, and surgery if necessary.

Forecast and prevention

To prevent shortness of breath, it is worth giving up bad habits

The prognosis in the treatment of diseases accompanied by a feeling of lack of oxygen is made taking into account several factors.

These include:

Age and general condition of the patient
Individual features of the clinical picture
Having a history of chronic diseases
The effectiveness of prescribed therapeutic procedures
The presence of complications or other aggravating factors

In most cases, with the right approach to treatment, following the doctor's recommendations, taking medications and attending procedures in a timely manner, the likelihood of a cure is quite high. The exceptions are severe illnesses, such as COPD, heart failure, severe pneumonia, in which shortness of breath may persist despite treatment.

To increase the effectiveness of therapy allows the observance of several preventive rules. They are recommended to be observed by each patient even after complete recovery in order to eliminate the risk of relapse.

The main preventive measures:

Rejection of bad habits
Correction
Refusal of heavy physical exertion
Elimination of stress factors
Regular ventilation of the living space
Reception of oxygen cocktails
Regular spa treatment
Visiting preventive medical examinations

These activities contribute to the overall strengthening and improvement of the body, reducing the risk of developing diseases, increasing the duration and quality of life.

Watch a video about shortness of breath:

The feeling of lack of oxygen, or shortness of breath, is a common pathological manifestation that can occur against the background of diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and nervous systems. The systematic occurrence of this symptom indicates the need for urgent medical intervention, since timely treatment reduces the likelihood of life-threatening complications.

Shortness of breath - in the vast majority of cases, it acts as a sign of a serious illness that requires immediate medical attention. Of particular danger is the disorder of respiratory function during falling asleep or during sleep.

Despite the fact that the main causes of shortness of breath are pathological in nature, clinicians identify several less dangerous predisposing factors, among which obesity occupies a special place.

To find out the source of such a manifestation, it is necessary to carry out a wide variety of diagnostic measures - from interviewing the patient to instrumental examinations.

The tactics of therapy is individual in nature and is completely dictated by the etiological factor.

Etiology

In almost all cases, attacks of lack of air are caused by two conditions:

hypoxia- in this case, there is a decrease in the oxygen content in the tissues;
hypoxemia- characterized by a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood.

Provocateurs of such violations are represented by:

heart weakness - against this background, congestion develops in the lungs;
or - this, in turn, develops against the background of collapse or, sclerosis of the lung tissue and tumor lesions of this organ, bronchospasm and difficulty breathing;
and other blood diseases;
stagnant;
spontaneous;
ingestion of a foreign object in the respiratory tract;
that can be observed with or VVD;
intercostal nerve, which can occur during the course of herpes;
severe form of leakage;
allergic reactions - it is worth noting that with allergies, lack of air acts as the main symptom;
inflammation of the lung;
- most often there is a lack of air at;
thyroid diseases.

Less dangerous causes of the main symptom are:

the presence of excess body weight in a person;
insufficient physical fitness, which is also called detraining. At the same time, it is a completely normal manifestation and does not pose a threat to human health or life;
the period of bearing a child;
bad ecology;
abrupt climate change;
the flow of the first menstruation in young girls - in some cases, the female body reacts to such changes in the body with a periodic feeling of lack of air;
talking while eating.

Shortness of breath during sleep or at rest can be caused by:

the influence of severe stress;
addictions to bad habits, in particular to smoking cigarettes just before bedtime;
previous excessively high physical activity;
strong emotional experiences experienced by a person at the moment.

However, if such a condition is accompanied by other clinical manifestations, then most likely the cause is hidden in an ailment that can threaten health and life.

Classification

Currently, the lack of air during breathing is conventionally divided into several types:

inspiratory- at the same time, the person has difficulty in breathing. This variety is most typical for cardiac pathologies;
expiratory- the lack of air makes it difficult for a person to exhale. Often this occurs in the course of bronchial asthma;
mixed.

According to the severity of the course of a similar symptom in people, air insufficiency happens:

acute- the attack lasts no more than one hour;
subacute- the duration is several days;
chronic has been observed for several years.

Symptoms

The presence of symptoms of lack of air is said in cases where a person has such clinical signs:

soreness and squeezing in the chest area;
having trouble breathing at rest or lying down;
inability to sleep lying down - it is possible to fall asleep only in a sitting or reclining position;
the occurrence of characteristic wheezing or whistling during respiratory movements;
violation of the swallowing process;
sensation of a lump or foreign object in the throat;
a slight increase in temperature;
inhibition in communication;
impaired concentration;
severe shortness of breath;
breathing loosely compressed or folded lips;
cough and;
increased yawning;
unreasonable feeling of fear and anxiety.

With a lack of air in a dream, a person wakes up from a sudden attack of shortness of breath in the middle of the night, i.e., there is a sharp awakening against the background of a severe lack of oxygen. In order to alleviate their condition, the victim needs to get out of bed or take a sitting position.

Patients should take into account that the above signs are only the basis of the clinical picture, which will be supplemented by the symptoms of the disease or disorder that served as the source of the main problem. For example, lack of air during VVD will be accompanied by numbness of the fingers, and fear of tight spaces. With allergies, frequent sneezing and increased. In cases of a feeling of lack of air in osteochondrosis, among the symptoms there will be -, decreased visual acuity, and numbness of the extremities.

In any case, if such an alarming symptom occurs, it is necessary to seek qualified help as soon as possible.

Diagnostics

To find out the causes of lack of air, it is necessary to carry out a whole range of diagnostic measures. Thus, to establish the correct diagnosis in adults and children, you will need:

study by the clinician of the patient's medical history and life history - to identify chronic ailments that can serve as a source of the main symptom;
conducting a thorough physical examination, with the obligatory listening to the patient during breathing using an instrument such as a phonendoscope;
to interrogate a person in detail - to find out the time of onset of attacks of lack of air, since the etiological factors of oxygen deficiency at night may differ from the appearance of such a symptom in other situations. In addition, such an event will help to establish the presence and degree of intensity of expression of concomitant symptoms;
general and biochemical blood test - this must be done to assess the parameters of gas exchange;
pulse oximetry - to determine how hemoglobin is saturated with air;
radiography and ECG;
spirometry and body plethysmography;
capnometry;
additional consultations of a cardiologist, endocrinologist, allergist, neurologist, therapist and obstetrician-gynecologist - in cases of lack of air during pregnancy.

Treatment

First of all, it is necessary to take into account the fact that in order to eliminate the main symptom, it is worth getting rid of the disease that caused it. It follows from this that therapy will be individual in nature.

However, in cases where such a symptom appears for physiological reasons, treatment will be based on:

taking medications;
using traditional medicine recipes - it must be remembered that this can only be done after the approval of the clinician;
breathing exercises prescribed by the attending physician.

Medical therapy includes application.

Many people are familiar with shortness of breath in our time: it occurs during active physical exertion or when experiencing strong emotions.

As a rule, after a person calms down and breathing quickly returns to normal, a healthy person forgets about it. This is a normal manifestation of physiological shortness of breath. Only if shortness of breath began to cause discomfort, it is worth considering a visit to the doctor.

What discomfort can people experience from shortness of breath, what causes shortness of breath and lack of air? Painful shortness of breath manifests itself in different ways: there is a feeling of lack of air and heaviness of the chest, a feeling that the air does not completely fill the lungs, it is difficult to breathe.

What it is

Shortness of breath or orthopnea is a feeling of lack of air, which manifests itself in a patient with a feeling of tightness in the chest.

Shortness of breath is understood as the following changes in the clinic - an increase in the depth and frequency of breathing more than 18 per minute. A healthy person does not notice his own breathing - for him it is a natural process.

A heavy load, for example, when running, causes a change in the depth and frequency of breathing, but this condition does not create discomfort, and all indicators return to normal within a few minutes.

If shortness of breath manifests itself when performing ordinary household activities, and even worse - at the slightest load or at rest, then we are talking about pathological shortness of breath - a symptom of a disease.

Classification

By manifestation, shortness of breath can be divided into:

subjective- described by patients with psychosomatic conditions and neurological diseases;
objective- which the patient may not feel, but it is manifested by a change in respiratory rate, breathing rhythm, inhalation / exhalation depth;
Combined- felt by the patient and confirmed objectively.

Based on the patient's complaints, 5 degrees of severity of dyspnea of people were developed, presented in this table.

What causes this pathological and unpleasant condition?

The reasons

The main causes of shortness of breath can be divided into 4 groups:

Respiratory failure resulting from diseases of the bronchi and lungs;
Heart failure;
Occurring with neurosis and neurocirculatory dystonia;
resulting from anemia and hypoxia.

Shortness of breath in lung diseases

Shortness of breath is observed in almost all diseases of the bronchi and lungs. It can occur acutely (as in pleurisy or pneumothorax), or it can last for weeks, months, or even years (COPD or COPD).

In COPD, shortness of breath occurs as a result of narrowing of the lumen of the airways and the accumulation of secretions in them. It is expiratory in nature and in the absence of treatment becomes more pronounced. Often it is combined with a cough with sputum.

Bronchial asthma is characterized by sudden attacks of suffocation. Such shortness of breath also has an expiratory character: when a light breath is followed by a labored exhalation. Breathing normalizes only when inhaled drugs that expand the bronchi. Attacks usually occur as a result of contact with allergens.

Frequent shortness of breath without exertion is a constant companion of infectious diseases - bronchitis and pneumonia, it also occurs with a common cold. The severity depends on the course of the disease and the extent of the process.

In addition to shortness of breath, these diseases are characterized by:

Temperature rise;
Weakness and sweating;
Cough dry or with phlegm;
Pain in the chest.

With the treatment of these diseases, shortness of breath disappears within a few days. In severe cases, a complication may occur - heart failure.

Tumors in the initial stages do not have severe symptoms.

If they are not detected during a diagnostic examination, they begin to grow and, upon reaching a large size, cause characteristic symptoms:

Gradually increasing shortness of breath;
Cough with little sputum;
Hemoptysis;
Pain in the chest area;
Weakness, pallor, weight loss.

Conditions that also present with dyspnea, such as pulmonary embolism, localized airway obstruction, or toxic pulmonary edema, are most life-threatening.

PE is a pathology when the pulmonary artery becomes clogged with blood clots and part of the lungs ceases to function. PE is manifested by sudden shortness of breath, which begins to bother a person even when performing minor actions or at rest. Along with this symptom, the patient is tormented by a feeling of suffocation, chest pain, and sometimes hemoptysis. The disease is confirmed by ECG, X-ray and angiopulmography.

Asphyxiation is also manifested by obstruction of the airways. Shortness of breath in this disease is inspiratory in nature, noisy breathing can even be heard at a distance.

When changing the position of the body, the patient often begins to cough painfully. The disease is diagnosed after radiography, tomography, spirometry and bronchoscopy.

Cause of difficulty breathing:

Obstruction of the respiratory tract as a result of its compression from the outside;
Tumor of the trachea or bronchi;
Ingress of a foreign body;
development of cicatricial stenosis.

It is necessary to treat the disease by restoring the patency of the airways by surgery.

As a result of exposure to toxic substances (with poisoning by salicylates, methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, carbon monoxide) or with a prolonged infectious disease, toxic pulmonary edema may occur.

Initially, the disease is manifested by rapid breathing and shortness of breath, but after a while, shortness of breath is replaced by suffocation with bubbling breathing. The disease recedes after detoxification.

Also shortness of breath are manifested:

Pneumothorax - a condition when air penetrates and remains in the pleural cavity, squeezing the lung and not allowing to breathe;
Tuberculosis- an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis;
Actinomycosis - fungal pathology;
Emphysema- a pathology in which the alveoli are stretched, losing the ability to exchange gases;
Silicosis- a group of occupational lung diseases that develop as a result of dust deposition in the lung tissue;
scoliosis, pathology of the thoracic vertebrae, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, ankylosing spondylitis - a change in the shape of the chest makes breathing difficult, causing shortness of breath.

Treatment of shortness of breath in all pulmonary diseases begins with the treatment of the underlying disease, accompanied by maintaining the patency of the respiratory tract and reducing the load on the respiratory system.

Shortness of breath in cardiovascular pathologies

Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of developing heart disease. In the initial stages of the disease, it manifests itself when walking fast or during other physical exertion, but with the progression of the disease, it begins to appear even with the slightest movement: when walking, when talking, while coughing and at rest. In the end, there is shortness of breath at rest.

With advanced disease, shortness of breath can begin to develop even at night during sleep (nocturnal cardiac asthma) and manifest itself in the morning. Causes its stagnation of fluid in the lungs. Accompanied by a state of severe fatigue, blue body parts, swelling of the extremities, pulse disorders.

Shortness of breath may develop with a long course of hypertension. At high pressure, shortness of breath begins at its peak, lasting no more than 15-20 minutes.

Acute shortness of breath can occur against the background of attacks of paroxysmal tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), especially in the elderly, and is accompanied by pain in the heart, dizziness and visual impairment.

Shortness of breath with neuroses

Three-quarters of neurological patients also complain of shortness of breath. The feeling of shortness of breath lack of air in this category of patients is accompanied by anxiety and fear of death.

Psychogenic respiratory disorders can manifest themselves after experienced emotional overexcitation or with prolonged stress. Some even develop attacks of false asthma. The clinical feature of psychogenic shortness of breath is the frequent sighs and groans accompanying the attack.

Shortness of breath with anemia

Anemia is a pathology caused by a decrease in the content of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood.

With a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin, oxygen transport to tissues worsens, due to which there is not enough oxygen in the body. The body tries to compensate for this condition by increasing the depth and frequency of breaths, that is, shortness of breath develops.

Anemia is diagnosed by taking a general blood test. The disease is accompanied by severe weakness, headaches, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, and dizziness may occur.

Shortness of breath in diseases of the endocrine system

In patients with thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus and obesity, shortness of breath is very common.

With thyrotoxicosis, the body begins to experience a lack of oxygen. An excess of hormones causes an increase in the number of heart contractions and the heart loses its ability to pump blood to the organs normally. The resulting hypoxia triggers a compensation mechanism - shortness of breath.
With obesity, the work of the muscles of the heart and lungs is difficult, due to the pressure on them of fat. As a result, a state of hypoxia also occurs.
In diabetes mellitus, hypoxia develops as a result of damage to the vascular system of the body. Over time, as a result of the progression of the disease, the kidneys are affected - diabetic nephropathy begins, even more provoking anemia.

Shortness of breath after eating

Many people complain of shortness of breath after eating. This is why it happens. The mucous membrane of the stomach and pancreas begin to secrete digestive enzymes to digest food. The nutrients processed by enzymes are absorbed into the bloodstream.

All these processes require a constant flow of large amounts of blood to the digestive tract, which redistributes the blood flow in the body.

If there are any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this process is disrupted and hypoxia develops in the internal organs, the lungs begin to work harder to compensate for the condition, which causes shortness of breath. If you experience shortness of breath after eating, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause.

Shortness of breath in pregnancy

During pregnancy, the entire body of a woman experiences an increased load due to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and compression of the diaphragm by an enlarged uterus, which makes it difficult to breathe, especially after eating and at night. Therefore, shortness of breath occurs in most pregnant women. Anemia that often accompanies pregnancy only exacerbates this condition.

Shortness of breath in children

At different ages, children have different breathing rates.

The condition is called shortness of breath if the child has a number of respiratory movements per minute:

0–6 months - more than 60;
6–12 months - more than 50;
older than 1 year - more than 40;
older than 5 years - more than 25;
10-14 years old - more than 20.

What causes shortness of breath in children:

Respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn;
False croup or acute stenosing laryngotracheitis;
congenital heart disease;
Development of bronchitis, allergies, pneumonia, bronchial asthma;
anemia.

To find out why shortness of breath appeared and where its roots grow from, you need to contact a general practitioner who will refer you to the necessary studies and tests, find out the causes of shortness of breath in a person and, depending on the results of the examination, send you to a specialized specialist for treatment: endocrinologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, hematologist .