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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Shortness of Breath
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Shortness of Breath
by Gfoss100, Jan 03, 2005 12:00AM
I have had shortness of breath for 2 weeks now. One night, I was watching television and was laughing. All of a sudden I felt as though I couldnt get any air into my lungs. For the past two weeks I have had shortness of breath while breathing in and it feels as though I am not getting enough oxygen into my lungs. It comes and goes periodically, but for the most part is with me 90% of the time. A year ago I was nearly passed out and was lightheaded and dizzy for nearly 12 months. It eventually went away, and after an extensive workup, the docs said it was probably viral. They never came to a conclusive answer of what was wrong.
I am wondering if the shortness of breath could be from anxiety that something like that could happen again or if something else may be causing it. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with these same sensations. (I did have shortness of breath last year for a couple months when I was lightheaded and dizzy and all tests came back normal. Docs chalked that up to anxiety but Ive never been an anxious person). thanks for your time.
I am wondering if the shortness of breath could be from anxiety that something like that could happen again or if something else may be causing it. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with these same sensations. (I did have shortness of breath last year for a couple months when I was lightheaded and dizzy and all tests came back normal. Docs chalked that up to anxiety but Ive never been an anxious person). thanks for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jan 25, 2005 12:00AM
, Jan 25, 2005 12:00AM
You have raised the question “if the shortness of breath could be from anxiety”. Before coming to this conclusion it is always important to first be sure there are no health problems causing your symptoms. Although it is hard to tell exactly what is going on, the sudden onset of your shortness of breath while laughing brings two considerations to mind: 1) aspiration and, 2) vocal cord dysfunction, paralysis or vocal cord spasm. Although you have had an extensive workup and all tests came back normal, you would want to be sure that your workup included testing for these problems.
Aspiration is the entry of foreign materials, including food and stomach contents, into the windpipe of the lungs. If your vocal cords and/or windpipe are not closing properly when you laugh or swallow during your sleep you could be aspirating. ·A gastroenterologist would be the type of specialist to test and treat you for this problem.
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition that can mimic asthma. However, VCD is not helped by asthma medicines. While inhaling the vocal cords should open to let air into the lungs. With VCD the vocal cords close together during inhalation. This makes it difficult for air to get into the lungs. A lot of the same things that trigger asthma can trigger VCD including upper respiratory infections, fumes, odors, reflux, cigarette smoke, singing, laughing, emotional upset, postnasal drip and exercise. Sometimes the trigger is not known. These attacks are also often seen with anxiety. Testing needs to be done while you are having symptoms. Generally testing for a breathing problem starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. It may be normal, except that the “breathing in” or inspiratory part, also called an inspiratory flow volume loop, will show little airflow while you are inhaling. A laryngoscopy is a procedure done by a specialized doctor using a small camera at the end of a flexible tube to see how your vocal cords open and close. VCD is treated by a speech therapist who will instruct you in open throat breathing techniques. Counseling can help you identify and deal positively with chronic stress, which may be an underlying factor in VCD. Please read our Vocal Cord Dysfunction MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/vocal.html for more information.
It is certainly possible for anxiety to cause shortness of breath. People often feel lightheaded and dizzy from anxiety. Spending a lot of time thinking about your breathing will make you more aware of the problem. The opposite is also true. Spending little time thinking about your breathing will make you less aware of the problem. This may explain why your symptoms come and go periodically. A regular exercise program often helps by getting you to think about something other than your breathing.
Diaphragmatic breathing can help you move more air in and out of your lungs. This is the most efficient way to breathe and may make your shortness of breath go away. Learning this technique will help you to breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly all of the time. Here are the instructions:
· Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
· While you breathe in, count 1, 2 and push your stomach out.
· Place your hand on your stomach so you can feel your stomach going out. This promotes the use of your diaphragm and your lower respiratory muscles.
· Breathe out slowly and deeply through your mouth. Imagine that you are breathing out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.
· While you slowly breathe out all the way, count 1, 2, 3, 4 and let your stomach relax. You can feel your stomach going in with your hand.
You often can get help with this type of breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.
Aspiration is the entry of foreign materials, including food and stomach contents, into the windpipe of the lungs. If your vocal cords and/or windpipe are not closing properly when you laugh or swallow during your sleep you could be aspirating. ·A gastroenterologist would be the type of specialist to test and treat you for this problem.
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition that can mimic asthma. However, VCD is not helped by asthma medicines. While inhaling the vocal cords should open to let air into the lungs. With VCD the vocal cords close together during inhalation. This makes it difficult for air to get into the lungs. A lot of the same things that trigger asthma can trigger VCD including upper respiratory infections, fumes, odors, reflux, cigarette smoke, singing, laughing, emotional upset, postnasal drip and exercise. Sometimes the trigger is not known. These attacks are also often seen with anxiety. Testing needs to be done while you are having symptoms. Generally testing for a breathing problem starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. It may be normal, except that the “breathing in” or inspiratory part, also called an inspiratory flow volume loop, will show little airflow while you are inhaling. A laryngoscopy is a procedure done by a specialized doctor using a small camera at the end of a flexible tube to see how your vocal cords open and close. VCD is treated by a speech therapist who will instruct you in open throat breathing techniques. Counseling can help you identify and deal positively with chronic stress, which may be an underlying factor in VCD. Please read our Vocal Cord Dysfunction MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/vocal.html for more information.
It is certainly possible for anxiety to cause shortness of breath. People often feel lightheaded and dizzy from anxiety. Spending a lot of time thinking about your breathing will make you more aware of the problem. The opposite is also true. Spending little time thinking about your breathing will make you less aware of the problem. This may explain why your symptoms come and go periodically. A regular exercise program often helps by getting you to think about something other than your breathing.
Diaphragmatic breathing can help you move more air in and out of your lungs. This is the most efficient way to breathe and may make your shortness of breath go away. Learning this technique will help you to breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly all of the time. Here are the instructions:
· Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
· While you breathe in, count 1, 2 and push your stomach out.
· Place your hand on your stomach so you can feel your stomach going out. This promotes the use of your diaphragm and your lower respiratory muscles.
· Breathe out slowly and deeply through your mouth. Imagine that you are breathing out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.
· While you slowly breathe out all the way, count 1, 2, 3, 4 and let your stomach relax. You can feel your stomach going in with your hand.
You often can get help with this type of breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.
Member Comments (1)
by Gfoss100, Sep 02, 2008 09:31AM
A related discussion, GERD was started.
