What causes difficulty breathing?
Jun 14, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
1. External environmental factors, such as prolonged stays in rooms with tightly closed doors and windows and poor air circulation, or exposure to distressing events.
2. Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, certain congenital heart diseases, rheumatic valvular heart disease, and cardiac tumors.
3. Respiratory diseases, such as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax.
Dyspnea (shortness of breath) refers to the patient’s subjective sensation of insufficient air and difficulty breathing. Objectively, it manifests as increased respiratory effort; in severe cases, patients may exhibit mouth breathing, nasal flaring, orthopnea (breathing while sitting upright), cyanosis, and recruitment of accessory respiratory muscles. Additionally, dyspnea may be accompanied by changes in respiratory rate, depth, and rhythm. So, what causes dyspnea? Below, we address this question.
What Causes Dyspnea?
1. Environmental Factors
Prolonged stays in poorly ventilated, tightly sealed rooms—such as those with closed windows—or exposure to emotionally distressing events or low-barometric-pressure weather conditions can often induce sensations of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. However, symptoms typically resolve rapidly following brief rest, opening windows for ventilation, or stepping outdoors to breathe fresh air. Therefore, such cases of dyspnea are generally benign and require neither concern nor medical treatment.
2. Cardiovascular Disorders
Conditions such as coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, certain congenital heart diseases, rheumatic valvular heart disease, and cardiac tumors may cause dyspnea—particularly during physical exertion—due to myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, individuals with long-standing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or a history of chronic smoking are also at increased risk for dyspnea. Additionally, certain hematologic disorders—including severe anemia, methemoglobinemia, and sulfhemoglobinemia—can produce similar symptoms.
3. Respiratory Disorders
Dyspnea commonly occurs in patients with pulmonary emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism, or pneumothorax. Moreover, upper or lower airway obstruction can also lead to dyspnea—for example, due to endobronchial or tracheal tumors, tracheal stenosis, goiter, or mediastinal tumors. Toxic exposures of various kinds may likewise provoke dyspnea.
The above outlines the major causes of dyspnea. We hope this information is helpful to you.
