Breathing Problems: Causes, Symptoms and Preventions

When you're short of breath, it's hard orthings, including the following:
uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygenAsthma
your body needs. You may feel as if you're notOther lung diseases, including emphysema (say:
getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing"em-fa-see-ma"), a lung disease that is caused by
problems are from a stuffy nose or hardsmoking
exercise. But shortness of breath can also be aHeart failure that causes fluid to collect in the
sign of a serious disease.lungs
Difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath,Panic attacks
breathlessness or dyspnea can have variousSymptoms Of Breathing Problems
causes. Episodes of shortness of breath can occur1. Sudden onset of severe shortness of breath:
during high levels of activity, like exhaustiveThis could be a flare-up of chronic lung disease like
exertion, or as a result of environmentalCOPD, or it might mean an infection such as
conditions such as high altitude or very warm orpneumonia or acute bronchitis or the onset of
cold temperatures. Other than these extremeheart failure.
conditions, shortness of breath is commonly a sign2. Sudden chest pain: Often sudden chest pain can
of a medical problem.indicate a heart problem, but it can also signal a
Most children who take part in baby swimminglung problem, such as a collapsed lung or blood clot
show no increased incidence of lower respiratoryin the lung.
tract infections, ear inflammation (otitis media) orPrevention
tightness and wheezing in the chest. Between* Wear a medical alert tag if you have a
6-18 months the incidence of lower respiratorypre-existing breathing condition, such as asthma.
tract infections and otitis media were 13 percent* If you have a history of severe allergic
and 30 percent respectively, whilst the proportionreactions, carry an epinephrine pen and wear a
of children who experienced tightness or wheezingmedical alert tag. Your doctor will teach you how
in the chest was 40 percent.to use the epi pen.
Causes of Breathing Problem* If you have asthma or allergies, eliminate
Breathing problems are common symptomshousehold allergy triggers like dust mites and mold.
caused by many conditions, iCOPD (chronicWhat might breathing problems indicate in a
obstructive pulmonary disease) a conditionsnewborn?
involving bronchitis and emphysema.ncludingBabies breathe much faster than older children
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseand adults. A newborn's normal breathing rate is
(COPD), other lung diseases and heart disease.about 40 times each minute. This may slow to 20
Most people who have breathing problems areto 40 times per minute when the baby is sleeping.
aware of the condition, such as when childrenThe pattern of breathing in a baby may also be
struggle to catch their breath during an asthmadifferent. A baby may breathe fast several times,
attack or ex-smokers find themselves easilythen have a brief rest for less than 10 seconds,
winded due to emphysema.than breathe again.
Shortness of breath can be caused by many