5 Causes of Shortness of Breath

Causes of Shortness of Breath

5 Causes to Know

When you go for a run or do strenuous exercise, your breathing

becomes rapid. But there are cases where shortness of breath occurs

even without any unusual physical activity in daily life.

If these symptoms continue, it is a sign that something may be wrong

with your health, so it is important to identify the cause properly and

receive diagnosis and treatment.

Today, I will talk about 5 reasons why you may keep feeling short of breath.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia literally means inflammation in the lungs,

and more specifically refers to inflammation in the air sacs called

alveoli.

When inflammation occurs in the lungs, lung function is impaired,

and symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, shortness of breath, phlegm, and

coughing up blood may appear.

In addition, pain may be felt every time you breathe, and systemic symptoms

such as headache, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, as well as nausea, vomiting,

and diarrhea may occur.

Angina

Angina is a condition in which blood vessels become narrowed, reducing

blood flow to the heart and some organs. As a result, oxygen and nutrient

supply also decrease, leading to various symptoms.

It causes severe pain that feels as if the chest is being squeezed, and the

pain is often felt mainly around the upper abdomen or on the left side.

This chest pain usually lasts for about 5 minutes, and shortness of breath

may accompany it. It commonly occurs suddenly during exercise or when under

stress.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women often feel short of breath even when they are just sitting

still without doing any special activity.

This symptom occurs as breathing becomes quicker because blood pressure rises

due to an increase in blood volume, and it is considered a natural symptom

during pregnancy.

Also, as pregnancy progresses into the second trimester, the fetus grows and

presses on the organs, causing the uterus to rise up to the lower part of the

lungs. As a result, shortness of breath becomes more severe.

Obesity

In people with obesity, the body needs more oxygen than in others, so the heart

starts beating faster and symptoms of shortness of breath appear.

In addition, excess fat builds up in the body, causing the tonsillar tissue to

become enlarged. If this reduces the space inside the throat, the upper airway

can also become narrowed.

This can make shortness of breath more severe than in others, so it is a good

idea to manage your weight through a healthy diet and exercise.

Anemia

Anemia means that the number of red blood cells in the blood is lower than the

normal level, reducing oxygen supply and causing complaints of headache and

dizziness.

Even with a small amount of movement, oxygen consumption increases, so you

quickly become short of breath. If anemia is severe, you may feel chest

tightness or shortness of breath even while resting.

Today, we looked at 5 causes of shortness of breath. If you repeatedly feel

short of breath in daily life, please review the information above and check

your health condition.