Breathing difficulty

My father has developed shortness of breath. He has had all the tests from stress tests to blood work and all came back great. His doctor suggested more exercise which he has done - walking and rowing - but still shortness of breath, mostly when he bends over. He gets "heaviness" in his chest also. He has had a hyoital hernia for 30 years that contributes problems of its own but surgury is not an option. He has occasional panic attacks at night that are very disorienting, accompanied by shortness of breath. He also uses an inhaler twice a day for mild asthma and 1/2 a zanex daily. My mother has just finished radiation, following chemo for breast cancer and I know he has been very stressed. He doctor says he can't find anything wrong, that he's just getting older (he's only 77!) and may have to adjust to this as a way of life. I live at an elevation of 3000 feet and when he comes to visit - which is very rare now - he says he can't breath very well. Any ideas?

[National Jewish]

There are so many reasons for shortness of breath.  You have mentioned several.  Altitude may cause shortness of breath, but this happens more when people with emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Shortness of breath can be a symptom of asthma.  If this is the case, then the inhaler should help.

A hiatal hernia can crowd the chest area giving the lungs less room to work.  In addition to shortness of breath, this could also cause the

[starion]

You didn't mention him having BREATHING TESTS, called spirometry or pulmonary function tests.  This would be very important to figure out how his asthma and/or other lung condition(s) are doing.  Generally, if a patient needs to take albuterol more than twice a WEEK, it is good to talk to the doctor and see whether his asthma treatment plan should be adjusted.  There are longer-acting medications which are similar to albuterol but have fewer side effects and last for 12 hours, such as Serevent and Foradil as well as a low to moderate dose of inhaled steroid to help control inflamation (inflammation) of his airways that might be useful to consider for his asthma.  Best of luck!
Starion