Have you ever felt suffocated when breathing and gasped for air? Well, you are not alone. As per studies, dyspnea or shortness of breath is prevalent in about 10% of adults worldwide.

Although benign reasons such as being obese, temperature fluctuations, and high altitudes can cause breathlessness, it’s critical to identify the warning signs, such as unexpected shortness of breath that is prolonged, frequent, and severe, pointing to a serious underlying lung or heart condition. 

Dr. Dinesh Mittal, a renowned Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, firmly believes that one should not ignore feelings of discomfort while breathing. He says, “Any sudden, severe, or persistent shortness of breath that causes chest pain and aggravates with activity warrants urgent medical care.” 

In this blog, we will explore shortness of breath causes and explore associated symptoms that necessitate immediate medical intervention.

Recognising Shortness of Breath Causes: A Symptomatic Approach

Shortness of breath or Dyspnea can have varying causes, such as exercise, smoking, anxiety, and illness. However, heart and lung conditions are the most common yet sometimes serious causes of breathlessness. Let’s delve into these causes and their associated symptoms in some detail.

Lung conditions causing breathlessness

Problems with the airway and lungs can cause a number of conditions listed below:

• Respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, Bronchitis, Flu, Tuberculosis, and Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD
• Pleural effusion is a lung-centric condition characterised by fluid accumulation. Similarly, Pleurisy denotes an inflamed Pleura surrounding the lungs. 
• Pulmonary hypertension indicates elevated blood pressure in the blood vessels that reach the lungs from the heart
• Pulmonary embolism, or blood clots in the lungs
• Lung cancer

Symptoms associated with lung conditions causing breathlessness

Symptoms associated with lung conditions that cause difficulty in breathing are having persistent cough, mucus buildup, and a wheezing sound as you breathe. Usually, symptoms worsen post-exercise and during the night while asleep.

Furthermore, other dyspnea warning signs related to lung conditions are feelings of discomfort while breathing, often described as chest tightness and laboured breathing.

Heart conditions causing breathlessness

Our health and longevity are significantly influenced by the way our heart functions.

The different heart problems listed below can cause Dyspnea and can even become serious causes of breathlessness. 

• Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer efficiently pump blood to different parts of the body, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and legs over time.
• Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart condition wherein the heart muscles become feeble
• Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeats
• Endocarditis often occurs due to a bacterial infection. The condition refers to swelling of the lining of the heart chambers and valves of the heart.
• Pericarditis or swelling of the heart sac
• Myocarditis occurs when the heart muscles become inflamed

Symptoms associated with heart conditions causing breathlessness

Heart-related problems can cause shortness of breath, especially after exertion. Also, one can experience feeling out of breath while lying down. Chest pain, heart palpitations or rapid heartbeats, and swelling of the legs are common symptoms associated with heart conditions. Moreover, feelings of dizziness and nausea may also surface.

Here, we can decipher that heart vs lung breathlessness can display varying yet distinct physical symptoms.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Mittal says, “Heart-related conditions can manifest  into Dyspnea warning signs, which are red flags warranting immediate medical attention.”

Other Causes of Breathlessness

Besides the lung and heart conditions, there are several other benign shortness of breath causes. Let’s list some of these causes. 

• Psychological conditions such as anxiety or panic attacks
• Extreme weather and temperature conditions
• Injury, such as a fractured rib
• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea cause nighttime Dyspnea
• Medications like statins and beta-blockers are used to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
• Lack of exercise
• Being obese

When should I see a doctor for shortness of breath?

As you can see, there are several and varied reasons for shortness of breath. It’s challenging to know what’s causing your Dyspnea unless a qualified medical professional thoroughly evaluates you. Furthermore, a sudden onset of breathlessness along with chest tightness, dizziness, and nausea can be dyspnea warning signs of some underlying serious causes of breathlessness.

Your doctor will prescribe specific imaging and diagnostic tests. Blood work might also be needed to rule out anaemia and infections.

Your breathing capacity may be noted by employing the lung function tests.

Also, tests like cardiopulmonary exercise tests may be required to gauge your body’s endurance towards exercise.

A patient of Dr Mittal shares, “I was facing difficulty in breathing for quite some time. These spells, over time, became more pronounced, and I also began experiencing dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations. I consulted Dr Mittal, who, after running some tests, diagnosed me with AFib or Atrial Fibrillation. He prescribed me blood thinners and other medications to restore the normal rhythm of the heart. Dr Mittal also explained how my obesity and thyroid problems were contributing to underlying AFib and breathlessness episodes and suggested lifestyle changes. Today, after almost a year under Dr Mittal’s care, both the severity and frequency of my laboured breathing have reduced drastically.”

Another patient of Dr Mittal shares, “I was experiencing shortness of breath along with chest pain and tiredness. I consulted Dr Mittal, and to my horror, my arteries were more than 70% blocked. Dr. Mittal helped diffuse my anxiety and calmly explained to me that bypass surgery was the most viable option in my case. Today, it’s been almost six months post-surgery, and I have fully recovered and have returned to my normal daily routine.”

The Bottomline

Shortness of breath can have varying causes, including mild and serious underlying health problems, mostly attributed to the heart and lungs. If you experience severe and sudden breathlessness along with telltale signs of chest pain, nausea, and bluish-colored nails and lips, it’s essential to seek immediate medical care.

Furthermore, if you are already aware that your underlying condition is causing shortness of breath on a routine basis, consult your doctor about managing your Dyspnea, as even small lifestyle alterations can positively impact your quality of life.

FAQs

1. Why am I suddenly short of breath?

Shortness of breath, when it happens unexpectedly, can have different causes. Some causes are not serious, such as mild conditions like exhaustion or anxiety. However, more serious health problems like lung issues or heart conditions can also cause breathlessness. It’s imperative to investigate shortness of breath and identify its root cause. One should immediately consult a doctor if the breathlessness persists or becomes severe.

2. Why am I breathless and feeling tightness in my chest?

Breathlessness and chest tightness are symptoms of Dyspnea, whereby you gasp for air and feel chest tightness. Usually, lung and heart problems are major causal factors of Dyspnea.

3. Which lung conditions cause breathlessness?

Lung conditions causing breathlessness are pneumonia, asthma, pulmonary embolism, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, and many other respiratory conditions.

4. Which heart-related conditions cause breathlessness?

Heart failure, where fluid accumulates in the lungs as the heart cannot effectively pump blood, can cause breathlessness. Other cardiac conditions, such as coronary heart disease, some valve problems, and arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats, are other major causes of shortness of breath. 

5. When to worry about shortness of breath?

Breathlessness should be considered a serious health anomaly, especially if it happens unexpectedly and gradually becomes severe with time. Moreover, shortness of breath that occurs along with dizziness, chest pain, and changing colour of nails and lips (usually bluish) warrants emergency care.

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