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anxiety
I don't know if this is anxiety. I get shortness of breath even when i don't have anxiety.I talked to my doctor she said my lungs sound clear. does anyone have this?
I have the shortness of breath. Basically, my anxiety makes my whole thorax contract like with stress. It causes pain up the back of my head, and all the muscles to cramp up in my ribs and between my shoulder blades. With all those muscles out of control it messes with my breathing. Sometimes, it hurts so bad that I'll go ahead and take an Ativan. It relaxes all those muscles, and I can breath better, but I try not to since it's so addictive.
i'am 40 i've been smoking for 20 years. i smoke half a pack a day .I'm down to 5 cigerettes a day trying to quit. i don't get the shortness of breath when i doing things around the house, it just comes out of the blue.two weeks ago i had a ekg done game back normal. the doctor told me it could be from acid reflux and anxiety.
Hi Geri, I used to attend meetings called Recovery Inc. and one of the techniques used is to "spot" other peoples symptoms and so forth after they have shared. To "spot" for you, I would say that you suffer from a symptom we call "air hunger" which is a part of panic. Smoking doesn't help, of course, because it increases your pulse rate also, etc., etc., but we were encouraged not to "work it up", but instead, "work it down". A lung x-ray would eliminate worries too, but don't catastrophize if you can help it and, of course, you know quitting would be a wonderful idea when you're ready. Whatever, you do, try to just take the actions required while remaining calm.
You might try this breath exercise: sit in a comfortable chair with feet on the floor or sit on the floor in Indian fashion. Hands palms up on thighs; eyes closed; take a breath in to a slow count of 4 (take the full count of 4 to completely fill your lungs from bottom to top in that order), then hold in that air for 4 counts, then exhale slowly for 4 counts (air will release from the top of your lungs to the very bottom), then hold the air out of the lungs for 4 counts, then start over. So it's 4 rounds in all. It takes practice. You may have to start over a few times at first to "slow down your breath", but keep trying. If you can't achieve a rthyrm to a count of 4, then try 3, but keep trying. Once you know what this feels like, your brain will be able to get you there. Hope that helps. Concentrate on the breath and counting. You CANNOT panic while doing
this because the mind follows the breath. Remember: Always work it Down, not Up and give yourself Credit for taking action.
You might try this breath exercise: sit in a comfortable chair with feet on the floor or sit on the floor in Indian fashion. Hands palms up on thighs; eyes closed; take a breath in to a slow count of 4 (take the full count of 4 to completely fill your lungs from bottom to top in that order), then hold in that air for 4 counts, then exhale slowly for 4 counts (air will release from the top of your lungs to the very bottom), then hold the air out of the lungs for 4 counts, then start over. So it's 4 rounds in all. It takes practice. You may have to start over a few times at first to "slow down your breath", but keep trying. If you can't achieve a rthyrm to a count of 4, then try 3, but keep trying. Once you know what this feels like, your brain will be able to get you there. Hope that helps. Concentrate on the breath and counting. You CANNOT panic while doing
this because the mind follows the breath. Remember: Always work it Down, not Up and give yourself Credit for taking action.
May I ask how old you are or for how many yrs did you smoke? My husband a heavy smoker, now smoke free for the last 4 yrs too started having shortness of breath and his heart and blood checked out o.k. but further testing by a pulmonary specialist (lung doctor) found that he has COPD and the beginning of emphysema. He has to sleep with an oxygen mask at night. The chest Xray showed several nodules, and he had to have a bronchoscope done in order to do a biopsy of the nodules. It was not lung cancer thank god, but the doctor said it would have turned into lung cancer. His shortness of breath caused him to seek a lung specialist after his heart and blood checked out o.k.
It probably is the smoking not to scare you but I wouls ask for a chext xray done make sure your lungs are clear. Its very bad for you. Im taking CHANTIX now to help me quit smoking. I recommend you should call your doctor ask for a CHEST xray and CHANTIX my husband been smoke free for 6 months now. Its so bad for our healths......
If you've shortness of breath without feeling anxiety your doctor should check for more than your lungs. For example your heart, a blood test, for example very low Potassium can cause shortness of breath. There are tons of other causes which can cause shortness of breath even severe vitamin deficencies.
What else did your doctor say besides that your lungs are clear which is good. If she doesn't do more tests I'd find myself another doctor.
What else did your doctor say besides that your lungs are clear which is good. If she doesn't do more tests I'd find myself another doctor.
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