Definition
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.
Causes
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.
Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly (called acute) has a limited number of causes, including:
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Cardiac tamponade (excess fluid around the heart)
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) — the blanket term for a group of diseases that block airflow from the lungs — including emphysema.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Heart attack
Heart arrhythmia (heart rhythm problems)
Heart failure
Pneumonia (and other pulmonary infections)
Pneumothorax — collapsed lung.
Pulmonary embolism — a blood clot in an artery in the lung.
Sudden blood loss
Upper airway obstruction (blockage in the breathing passage)
In the case of shortness of breath that has lasted for weeks or longer (called chronic), the condition is most often due to:
Asthma — a long-term condition that affects airways in the lungs.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) — the blanket term for a group of diseases that block airflow from the lungs — including emphysema.
Deconditioning
Heart dysfunction
Interstitial lung disease — the blanket term for a large group of conditions that scar the lungs.
Obesity
Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid around the lungs)
A number of other health conditions also can make it hard to get enough air. These include:
Lung problems
Croup (especially in young children)
Lung cancer
Pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs)
Pulmonary edema — excess fluid in the lungs.
Pulmonary fibrosis — a disease that happens when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred.
Pulmonary hypertension
Sarcoidosis
Tuberculosis
Heart problems
Cardiomyopathy (problem with the heart muscle)
Heart failure
Pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue around the heart)
Other problems
Anemia — a condition in which the body doesn’t get oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells.
Anxiety disorders
Broken ribs
Choking: First aid
Epiglottitis (swelling of the “lid” of your windpipe)
Foreign object inhaled: First aid
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Kyphoscoliosis (a chest wall deformity)
Myasthenia gravis (a condition causing muscle weakness)
