Shallow breathing

Hello,

37 year old male, exercise regularly (2 miles a day, fast walking).  Had Ross procedure 2+years ago (valve replacement), recent cardio check-up (echo done) came up fine.  Started experiencing very mild shortness of breath about one month ago.. notice the most when I wake up in the morning, feels like I'm breathing more rapidly then normal.  Some light headedness during morning hours, not consistent.  Definitely do not notice this when exercising.  Do not feel like I'm out of breath at all, just that my breathing is somewhat faster.

Was taking Buspar for tension headaches, recently went off of it.  Breathing issue started while still taking Bupsar, two weeks of off it, still notice it somewhat.  Some recurring pain under left side ribcage, toward lower end.

No fevers, have had some isolated night sweats over past three weeks, nothing consistent though.

Any suggestions?

John

[National Jewish]

Based upon the information given, your symptoms are not on a cardiac basis, unless you are having some type of arrhythmia.  The rapid breathing and light-headedness on awakening is most suggestive of hyperventilation syndrome, especially since it is not evident during exercise.
You need an objective evaluation.
Spirometry and probably an exercise study would rule out arrhythmias, hyperventilation and asthma, despite the apparent absence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB).
The breathing symptoms could well be related to the Buspar.  You and your doctor might have to put this to the test.
If the night sweats are real, and "drenching", and are of recent origin, they could be indicative of tuberculosis (TB) or other pulmonary infection.  While night sweats are typical of TB, TB does not cause most night sweats. They are more likely functional, possibly related to anxiety, but a chest X-ray should be done and a record of temperatures, especially during the night, kept.