Shortness of breath

It’s normal to get out of breath when you’ve overexerted yourself. But when breathlessness comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, it’s usually a sign of a medical condition.

• you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
• you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
• you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
• you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
• your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands

Your child is short of breath and:

• their lips or skin are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of their hands
• is breathing fast or stops or pauses
• has severe difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises or suck their stomach in under their ribcage
• is pulling in at their throat area (tracheal tug) or their windpipe is more prominent
• is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do – they may find it difficult to focus on you or are more difficult to wake up than usual.

• have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
• have pain when breathing in or coughing
• are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
• feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
• are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
• have pain or swelling in 1 of your legs
• have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest.

• did the breathlessness come on suddenly or slowly?
• did anything trigger it, such as exercise?
• how bad is it?
• does it only happen when you’ve been active, or when you’re not doing anything?
• is there any pain when you breathe?
• do you have a cough?
• do certain positions make it worse – for example, can you lie down?

Feeling like you can’t get enough air can be scary. Make sure you get help from a healthcare professional. They may give you extra oxygen to breathe if you need it.

 

What causes sudden shortness of breath?

There are different health conditions that can cause sudden and unexpected breathlessness.

A problem with your lungs or airways

Sudden breathlessness could be an asthma attack. You’ll feel breathless because it’s difficult to move air in and out of your airways. Your GP may advise you to use a spacer device with your inhaler to help your breathlessness.

Pneumonia (lung inflammation) may also cause shortness of breath and a cough. It’s usually caused by an infection, so you’ll need to take antibiotics.

If you have COPD , it’s likely your breathlessness is a sign this condition has suddenly got worse.

A heart problem

It’s possible to have a heart attack  without having all the obvious symptoms, such as chest pain and anxiety.

In this case, shortness of breath may be the only warning sign you’re having a heart attack. If you or your GP think this is the case, they’ll give you aspirin  and admit you to hospital straight away.

Heart failure can also cause breathing difficulties. Heart failure means your heart cannot pump enough blood around your body. It’s usually because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. It leads to a build-up of fluid inside the lungs, which makes breathing more difficult. Lifestyle changes and medicines or surgery will help the heart pump better and relieve your breathlessness.

Breathlessness could also be linked to a problem with your heart rate or rhythm. For example, atrial fibrillation  (an irregular and fast heart rate) or supraventricular tachycardia  (regular and fast heart rate).

Panic attack or anxiety

A panic attack  or anxiety can cause you to take rapid or deep breaths, known as hyperventilating. Concentrating on slow breathing or breathing through a paper bag can bring your breathing back to normal. This should only be done when you are sure that anxiety is the cause of your breathlessness.

More unusual causes

More unusual causes include:

• a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• pneumothorax – partial collapse of your lung caused by a small tear in the lung surface, which allows air to become trapped in the space around your lungs
• pulmonary embolism – a blockage in one of the blood vessels in the lung
•  idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis– a condition that causes scarring of the lungs
• pleural effusion – excess fluid next to the lung
• diabetic ketoacidosis – a complication of diabetes where acids build up in your blood and urine

What causes long-term breathlessness?

Long-term breathlessness is usually caused by:

obesity

• being unfit
• poorly controlled asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• anaemia
• heart failure
• a problem with your heart rate or rhythm

More unusual causes of long-term breathlessness are:

bronchiectasis

• a blockage in a blood vessel in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• partial collapse of your lung caused by lung cancer
• excess fluid next to the lung (pleural effusion)
• narrowing of the main heart valve, restricting blood flow to the rest of the body
• having panic attacks  often