Breathing problem for my brother

[Jiggy007]

Doc,
My bro who is aged 31 now, is suffering from breathing problem. This happens especially during night times. As a result he is finding it difficult to get proper sleep. He also have headache at times. He was earlier ( before breathing problem started, he used to vomit and had severe headache)admitted to hospital and doctor said he had some chest infection. But he was treated and then discharged. But since the time he came home, he is suffering from breathing problems. He is little fat but now looks weak. Now he was again taken to hosp, doc has advised to take angiogram test. Can you please tell me whats happening with him and how serious he is?

[Jiggy007]

Thanks for the info doc.

The doc who have consulted him have said that he has low sugar and informed there is no cardiac disorders. However in order to confirm that, he will undergo some test tomorrow. We are awaiting the results of the test. What are the effects of low sugar level? Sometimes he vomit during night time, is it due to overdose of medicine?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Inadequate oxygenation can produce symptoms of breathlessness, as the body tries in an effort to compensate for the decreased oxygen supply. The breathlessness could be due to cardiac or lung disorders. Breathlessness on exertion could be due to the decreased lung function. Again in cardiac disorders the heart is unable to pump the blood adequately, more so when subjected to stress like exercise. Certain systemic disorders like anemia, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disorders can cause these symptoms. Breathlessness in sleep could also be due to sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea.

After an EKG or a treadmill test your doctor may have asked for an agiogram to rule out a cardiac cause for the symptoms. He may even ask for blood tests and an X ray chest. Lung function tests could further help in evaluation. A sleep study may help rule out obstructive sleep apnea.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.