Short of breath?

Just curious - when would you say someone is short of breath? I see folks mention that they're short of breath but how can you determine that? Some people say they get short of breath after running only (!) one mile. Shoot, I've never been able to run at all thanks to my tachy heart. Or is shortness of breath when you climb a flight of stairs with 2 bags of groceries? How about walking through the store? There's a wide range from running to simple walking. What would you call normal SOB vs. a troublesome SOB? Just trying to get a feel for this.

[Momto3]

When I experience what is "normal" shortness of breath for me, it's more a result of deconditioning.  

When I notice a change in being able to do something that generally gives me no problem, I consider it significant SOB.  For instance, I'll notice I have difficulty walking a very short distance, climbing a single flight of stairs, talking on the phone for any period of time (YIKES), just doing routine things that generally don't bother me.

That's a great question and tough to answer....lol

[Jack54]

I have been introduced to three types of them SOBs. One is when for whatever reason, you just do more physical activity than your fastest respirations per minute can restore the O2 your body needs, so you have to stop and catch your breath. This is the normal kind and happens when we overdo our physical capabilities.

The second kind is disease related. One day a flight of stairs doesn't bother us at all, yet on some particular days we struggle to catch our breath when we reach the top of the stairs. You have asthma, so some days will be worse than others. I believe you take medicine for your asthma. Maybe when you are time wise far away from a dose, your SOB gets worse. I have this type of SOB due to CAD, which is sometimes better than at other times. I think that you know that you are free of CAD, IIRC.

The third type of SOB is the most scary type for me. I call it air hunger or air starvation. It can happen while sitting down. It feels like you are one breath away from passing out. When this realization becomes clear in your conscious mind, it causes panic and I sometimes hyperventilate on purpose. I really never hyperventilate, I just breath deep and fast to bring in O2.

I sure hope that you have an idea about why you are having SOB, and if not you need to speak with your doctor, or maybe see a pulmonologist.

I have COPD and congestion. I am also terribly out of shape. One day I will fix that.

Hugs across the many miles,

Jack

[ireneo]

Thanks to you both. I'm just puzzled by the posts I see where people say they are short of breath but the conditions vary so much. I was wondering what parameters doctors use to measure true SOB. How can they tell if someone is deconditioned (other than the overweight people), whether it's a real problem or just a bit of anxiety and worry about nothing.

Yes, I have asthma and I know when it flares up. Usually because I cough a lot as well. I use my peak flow meter and my stethoscope to monitor my lungs. I have a handle on that.

What I'm reading then is true SOB is perhaps when a person notices a distinct change (they used to be able to do this or that but now they can't without puffing) or the "air hunger" you mentioned. Just sitting there and craving air. That would be scary.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. Sometimes I just think too much and come up with off the wall questions. Especially last night when it was too hot to sleep.

[mrwjd]

I first knew I was slightly short of breath when I noticed I was taking an occasional extra breath, and that I was noticing my breathing at all--no big deal, but a warning sign.

Now there is no mistaking it.  Shortly before, and starting again about 2 wk after AVR, I often feel I am fighting for air--not like the fast, deep breathing of gulping in air after exertion, but a feeling that no matter what I do, I can't inhale enough.  My O2 isn't dangerously low, but it is lower than ever before, and this is a bad feeling.

I work at not panicking, which is easy to do when you feel you are suffocating!  I have looked up and tried some tricks of respiratory therapists and find that some including abdominal breathing help sometimes.  Probably my best tool is an oximeter; I'm a lot less scared, and so don't complicate the situation with panic, when I can see the numbers and know that I'm not really in serious oxygen deprivation.

I sure would like it to go away, though!  

[ireneo]

That sounds very similar to my asthma flares. When I try to take a breath it's as if I hit a wall inside my lungs. I can't inhale very deeply. That means I have trouble talking but I'm sure some folks are happy to see me quiet :-)  

This has been very informative and I love to learn. Thanks.

[Bev170]

About 8 or 9 years agomy mother began to experience a hint of shortness of breath while going up a very small incline in the neighborhood during morning walks.  She dismissed it, as did we.  It was just so subtle.

Two years ago, Mother had extreme weakness.  She was placed in the hospital and it was discovered that she has hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Soooo, I would get a check-up to determine the reason for shortness of breath and begin being treated for it early if there is a need for treatment.  Just a thought.