Short of breath

[marilee176]

Hi,
I am having so much trouble breathing for the last week.  It is really bad when I try and walk even a few steps.
Has anynone felt like this.  I feel really scared.  I live in Phoenix and the Pollen count is high but i worry it might be something with my heart.

[marilee176]

Hi Dr.

I was in the ER the beginning of the month because of started throwing up and it made an afib episode.  They did an EKG and chest xray.  The xray said i had mild interstitial edema.  I was not short of breath when I went there and not when I came out the same day.  My bad shortness of breath came the last 8 days, yesterday it was better but today it got worse again,  I have some mucous that comes up and it feels a little bit of relief but then goes back to SOB.  I feel scared.

Someone said the mild edema that day could of been cause of the vomiting.

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, from your history it is difficult to say the organ of involvement. The most common possibility would be bronchial asthma. It is important to rule out respiratory system dyspnea (shortness of breath) from cardiovascular dyspnea. Or else you may have more than one problem contributing to the breathing discomfort. The most common causes of dyspnea are asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and cardiomyopathy, valvular disorders, pericardial diseases, anemia etc.  Another important possibility needed to be ruled out is myocardial infarction.

I suggest you undergo Hb% level, ECG, Serum tests for allergy, Allergen challenge and as well as Evaluation of respiratory system by spirometry will help to substantiate the diagnosis, echocardiography to diagnose the exact cause and appropriate treatment. As for bronchial asthma, treatment with bronchodilators will give immediate relief.  I suggest you to consult physician for further evaluation. Take care and regards.