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Respiratory Disorders  (Expert Forum)
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Air hunger - is this asthma or anxiety?
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National Jewish -
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MedHelp Member's Question

Air hunger - is this asthma or anxiety?

by celticmom, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
I was dx'd w/non allergic asthma a couple months ago after landing in the hospital from an asthma attack.  Prior to that I had no history of asthma.  My docs discovered I have chronic sinusitis which kept re-infecting my lungs until, I guess, they just couldn't take it anymore. I was tested for allergies and apparently have none.  



Since the attack, I find the need to take deep breaths (which I was told is called air hunger) or yawn constantly.  It doesn't happen every day and some days are worse than others.  Sometimes it happens so much over the course of the day that my lungs feel "sore" for lack of a better word.



My question - is this part of asthma or is it anxiety?  I have discovered that when I take atavan (sp?) the symptoms aren't as bad.  I'm not sure if it is a psychological reaction or physical though.  After my attack, I was put on a couple of long courses of Levaquin and actually, just finished another 6 week course. I read that Levaquin can cause anxiety and wonder if that has something to do with it.  



Any insight?
Doctor's Answer

by National Jewish, Jul 31, 2005 12:00AM
With a history of a diagnosis of asthma, it is difficult to tell what is the cause of the symptoms you are describing.  It would be fairly easy for your doctor to assess your problem.  While you are having these symptoms, your doctor could listen to your lungs and perform a pulmonary function test.  That could lead you to taking appropriate action to deal with these symptoms.
Member Comments (13)

by lgard, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
I have been experiencing the same "air hunger" I quit smoking about 3 months ago and have also had chest x-rays that confirm that my lungs are normal. I am a healthy 35 year old who has always eaten well and excercised at least four times a week. In addition my 4 year old son was diagnosed with Leukemia close to a year ago.  The doctors are telling me that this is related to stress and anxiety but I am not entirely confident with that.  They seem to find out my situation and more or less tell me that I am creating my own symptoms.  This is very frustrating as It is real and it is scary.  I have good days and bad days as well and they have also suggested that it could be caused by acid reflux brought on once again by stress.  I am not saying that they are wrong but would like a second opinion.

by celticmom, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
To: lgard
First let me say how sorry I am that you are having to go through this with your son.  I have 3 kids and what you are going through is my worst nightmare.  I wish you well and send prayers that your son will recover quickly.  



I would definitely get a second opinion on your breathing, just because I have learned to not always trust the first one.  However, I can say that the more and more I deal with it, I have to believe that it is anxiety causing a type of hyperventilation.  I think that is what my "air hunger" really is.  I don't know for a fact, I'm certainly not a doc, but from what I have read online and know from personal experience, the mind can really screw you up if you let it.  



Don't forget, you need to take care of you in order to take care of him.  I'll be keeping you and your son in my prayers and thoughts. God bless.

by Inanga, Jul 17, 2005 12:00AM
hi - i suffered from Hyperventilation Syndrome for a few years -to summarise I did not use by diaphragm properly but brethed by expanding my chest. In my case this led to 'air hunger' - feeling of not getting enough air - this led to more and more breathing which is hyperventialtion - too much O2 (and lack of C)2 in the blood) which casues dizziness and possibly tingly extremities. Also the feeling of drowing (lack of air) led to panic and lots of adrenhalin which led to uncontrollable shaking. Doc thought it was hypoglycemia but sugar levels were normal. Also from all that chest expansion led to chest pains (another worrying feeling). In summary we should use our diaphragms to breath - the chest should really only expand when we're exercising hard and need that bit extra air volume. Since doing some brething technique re-training (with a trained physio) breathing has become a lot easier. Apparently it can take a long time - even a year - for the brain to get used to proper O2/CO2 levels in the blood - bad breathing for a long time sort of reprograms the brain to be used to low CO2 - retraining can be a bit uncofortable as the brain resists getting MORE ocygen than it's used to - preoper advice is worthwhile.



as a strange side note I found food sensitivities contributed to my bad breathing - excess respiritory mucous made it harder to breathe and a bloated stomach (gluten reaction) made it harder for my diaphragm to push down into my abdomen - you can strengthen the diaphragm with resistance training - breathing through a device. good luck and happy breathing - it's so GOOD when it comes right.



PS one doc diagnosed asthma when it's wasn't - maybe your's isn't too - but take asthma seriously!

by 7496rt, Jul 18, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Celtic Mom, I have had problems with anxiety since I was a kid. I went to doctor after doctor, all telling me that I was just the "nervous" type. I got so tired of hearing it that I finally went to a phyciatrist to get to the root of this nightmare. Panick, shortness of breath,having to run out of a store,tingling extremities, and the list goes on. When you talk about your lungs hurting, I totally understand. I always have referred to that as my lungs feeling "cold". No doctor until now could understand what I meant by that feeling. (Only my "shrink" understands) On a bad day, I have medication for it, but try to avoid it. I think that feelings of anxiety are easier to deal with, when you learn that you dont have some dreadful disease,or when you meet someone that can truely and personally relate.





My thoughts and prayers go out to the little boy with leukemia. Keep up the faith, medical technology has come a long way.

by lgard, Jul 24, 2005 12:00AM
Thank you everyone for your best wishes with my son.  He is in remission and doing quite well.  I wanted to ask if anyone has had a high pulse rate with this strange "air hunger" I have been told that I have the blood pressure of a teenager but lately my resting pulse rate is between 90-110 this seems high as i am in shape.  I have never been told until recently that it is high and never had much concern to check it before a nurse brought it to my attention.

by newman63, Jul 27, 2005 12:00AM
I too stooped smoking about 2 months ago. And I had already been suffering from mild-moderate anxiety.



Now  find myself feeling incomplete breaths, frquent yawning, and a general tightness in my chest.  



Do you think this could be caused by the smking cessation?



by denuccio, Aug 05, 2005 12:00AM
Sorry, it was neither for me. Although I have had ALL of these symptoms.

After four years of trial and error I have found that I need more iron.

Iron allows blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. It's the largest deficiency in the U.S. ! (Read the back of the Nature Made label)

Also, a supplement of Armour thyroid helped.

My incident occurred after a surgery. I feel it was loss of blood in combination with too many and too much medication. Long story.

But that's it.

Have your ferritin levels checked. If they are at the low end, then try iron.

Ferrous fumarate works best for me. I take at least 65 mg. day with vitamin C for absorption and with food. It takes at least a week and maybe longer and the fatigue and air hunger goes away. But if not, get to a doc and get thyroid