shortness of breath during menstrual cycle

[katlc]

what could cause shortness of breath during my menstrual cycle?  this began when i was 11 years old and i've now been dealing with it for 28 years.  some months are worse than others.  it usually just lasts a few days but is miserable.  it can begin a few days before my period starts or during my period.  it seems to be a hereditary thing.  my mother and grandmother had the same problem and my daughter also seems to have it.  i've asked doctors about it and nobody seems to have any clue.  i feel like i can't take a deep enough breath.  i have to make myself yawn or lean over (in a tripod position) to be able to take a deep enough breath.  

[Tiffanyyoung83078]

I have had this same exact problem! can't catch a deep enough breath and have to force myself to yawn in order to feel comfortable if just for a couple minutes.  I have had several blood tests, chest xrays, and even a stress test(I am 37 and workout 6days a week). I am anemic, however, I take iron pills for that. It makes me so nervous that I end up working myself up to a panic attack. If anyone has found anything that can be done to make this even a little bit better, PLEASE lmk! it's very tough to deal with!

[hava]

Do anulom vilom pranayam (alternate nostril breathing), to send extra oxygen to the brain, Do this for 5 to 15 minutes daily. Please write your feedback when you experience the benefit.

[rkj0909]

For the past 3 months my 15 year old daughter has been going through the exact same thing.  She gets very weak and sometimes even has to sit down as she walks to her classes at school.  She gets dizzy and sometimes has blackouts.  Her chest gets tight and she can't breath.  Her inhaler helps her during regular asthma attacks, but it does not help her with the attacks she has around the time of her period.  Her doctor's only answer was to "drink more water".  She ends up missing school every month because of this.  Hoping to find an answer soon...

[mapeng]

I have the same issue - I'm pretty sure it is from not enough iron. One of the symptoms of iron deficiency is shortness of breath, so maybe try taking a multivitamin every day that contains iron and see if that improves your symptoms. I take an extra iron supplement sometimes. We lose iron every month, some women more than others, and I know I don't consume enough iron in vegetables and red meat every day to make up the difference.

[LunaSol737]

I know this is an old thread.  But, I tend to agree with you here.  I have been dealing with this issue for around eight years, and I have just been trying to find a pattern.  i have had chest x-rays and other tests, dealing with dizziness and shortness of breath that lasts up to a week and then goes away.  I feel bloated when I have my SOB, and notice that I will have more gas and have to burp a lot to try to relieve it.  I noticed that when I quit drinking soda for several months, the symptoms diminished greatly and mostly went away.  I feel like it could be diet related, or possibly candida, or food intolerance.  Along with the hormone imbalance, because it seems to happen during ovulation time.  I find it frustrating that there are not answers.  I have been treated for iron anemia, but this last time my iron count wasn't really low.  I just feel like they treated me because there were no other answers.  Also, said it is anxiety and tried to put me on pills for that.  I would like to go to a holistic doctor to see what they say.  I was having very heavy periods after I stopped breastfeeding, so I started to take a supplement called EstroSense which seemed to balance that out.  I get scared when it happens though, like I may have lung disease.  This is one of the only places that I have found that describes my symptoms.  The body is a complex thing and I just think that something is out of balance.  Good luck.

[lego1ady]

I will definitely try some of the tips listed here. But it seems there's no cure for this.

I too have experienced this for decades. I get this problem before my period although I don't have them any more due to the IUD and it can last up to 2 weeks. Sometimes it's so bad I have to sit and focus on breathing. When I take a deep breath my chest hurts. Dizziness and fatigue I can handle but shortness of breath is just killing me.

It's more than annoyance since I am trying to box. Every time I have a fight I have to worry about the date. I feel like dying without any physical activity and boxing in this condition really scares me.