What is breathlessness?
Breathlessness, also known as shortness of breath, happens when your airways get narrowed, making it hard to breathe. It is often linked to long-term conditions like COPD, asthma, etc. Sometimes, it may also happen after heavy exercise or during very hot or cold weather. If you feel breathless while doing daily activities, it may be a sign of serious medical conditions, and it's important to talk to your doctor about it.1,2
Breathlessness may be a symptom of different long-term health problems such as:
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Asthma
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Anemia
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Anxiety
Treatment of breathlessness generally aims to tackle the root cause of this symptom. Your doctor will check what's causing your breathing problems and recommend medications to treat them.1
What to do if you suddenly feel very breathless
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Try to stay relaxed; anxiety can worsen breathlessness.
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If there's no clear cause, call your doctor or go to the hospital
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If you have asthma, use your inhaler as adviced by your doctor.
Reference
- Bozkurt B, Mann DL. Shortness of Breath. Circulation. 2003 Jul 15;108(2).
- Diagnosing and Treating Shortness of Breath. www.lung.org. Available from:Click here