Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Shortness of breath — known medically as dyspnea — is often described as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger, difficulty breathing, breathlessness or a feeling of suffocation.
Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, obesity and higher altitude all can cause shortness of breath in a healthy person. Outside of these examples, shortness of breath is likely a sign of a medical problem.
If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.
Seek emergency medical care
Call 911 or your local emergency number or have someone drive you to the emergency room if you experience severe shortness of breath that comes on suddenly and affects your ability to function. Seek emergency medical care if your shortness of breath is accompanied by chest pain, fainting, nausea, a bluish tinge to lips or nails, or a change in mental alertness — as these may be signs of a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
Make a doctor's appointment
Make an appointment with your doctor if your shortness of breath is accompanied by:
- Swelling in your feet and ankles
- Trouble breathing when you lie flat
- High fever, chills and cough
- Wheezing
- Worsening of preexisting shortness of breath
Self-care
To help keep chronic shortness of breath from getting worse:
- Stop smoking. Quit smoking, or don't start. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. If you have COPD, quitting can slow the progression of the disease and prevent complications.
- Avoid exposure to pollutants. As much as possible, avoid breathing allergens and environmental toxins, such as chemical fumes or secondhand smoke.
- Avoid extremes in temperature. Activity in very hot and humid or very cold conditions may magnify the dyspnea caused by chronic lung diseases.
- Have an action plan. If you have a medical condition that causes shortness of breath, discuss with your doctor what to do if your symptoms become worse.
- Keep elevation in mind. When traveling to areas with higher altitude, take time to adjust and avoid exertion until then.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise can help improve physical fitness and the ability to tolerate activity. Exercise — along with weight loss if you're overweight — may help decrease any contribution to shortness of breath from deconditioning. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
- Take your medications. Skipping medications for chronic lung and cardiac conditions can lead to poorer control of dyspnea.
- Regularly check your equipment. If you rely on supplemental oxygen, be sure your supply is adequate and the equipment works properly.
Show References
- AskMayoExpert. Dyspnea (adult). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
- AskMayoExpert. Dyspnea (pediatric). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2018.
- Mahler DA, et al. Recent advances in dyspnea. Chest. 2015;147:232.
- Walls RM, et al., eds. Dyspnea. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 15, 2019.
- Dyspnea. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/symptoms-of-pulmonary-disorders/dyspnea?query=Shortness of Breath. Accessed March 15, 2019.
- Shortness of breath. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/shortness-of-breath.html. Accessed March 15, 2019.
- Mahler DA. Evaluation of dyspnea in the elderly. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 2017;33:503.
- Davis C, et al. Advances in the prevention and treatment of high altitude illness. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2017;35:241.
- Warning signs of heart failure. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/warning-signs-of-heart-failure. Accessed March 18, 2019.
- COPD. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copd. Accessed March 18, 2019.
- Warning signs of a heart attack. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack. Accessed March 18, 2019.
- Venous thromboembolism. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/venous-thromboembolism. Accessed March 18, 2019.
- AskMayoExpert. Cardiac sarcoidosis. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2019.
- Pajdzinski M, et al. Kyphoscoliosis — What can we do for respiration besides NIV? Advances in Respiratory Medicine. 2017;85:352.
- Olson EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 19, 2019.
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Accessed June 11, 2020.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050890