Difficulty breathing due to osteochondrosis. Not enough air: causes of breathing difficulties - cardiogenic, pulmonary, psychogenic, other Difficulty breathing when inhaling

The spine consists of 32-33 vertebrae: 24 of them are mobile and form the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. All of them are connected in series by ligaments, facet joints and intervertebral discs.

Each vertebra has a body and an arch with spinous processes extending from it. Connecting together, they form the spinal canal. It contains spinal cord, veins and arteries. Through the lateral transverse foramina of the vertebrae, blood vessels and nerve endings, extending from the spinal cord, exit the spinal canal. Located along the spine, they penetrate all tissues and organs of the body, ensuring their blood supply and proper functioning.

With osteochondrosis, intervertebral discs are destroyed: their height and elasticity decrease. This leads to increased load on the spine, displacement of its vertebrae towards the paravertebral structures and the formation of bone growths on them. When moving, they irritate the spinal roots and blood vessels: the flow of blood and oxygen to the tissues, the transmission of impulses from the spinal cord to the brain deteriorate.

If osteochondrosis is not treated, a protrusion or hernia will form over time. intervertebral disc, joints, ligaments and muscles are involved in destructive processes, and pathological mobility of the vertebrae appears. This leads to compression blood vessels and nerve roots: intense pain occurs, disturbances in work internal organs. The nature of vascular and neurological disorders depends on the localization of pathological processes in the spine.

Why is it difficult to take a full breath with osteochondrosis?

Difficulty breathing can be a sign of both thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis.

If the discs fail between 1-4 thoracic vertebrae, the phrenic nerve, the spinal roots responsible for the innervation of the organs of the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems are infringed: pain appears during deep breathing, the functioning of the lungs, heart and stomach is disrupted.

With cervical osteochondrosis, pinching of the nerve roots also occurs. But the inability to take a full breath due to pathology of this part of the spine is explained: blood flows through it to the posterior parts of the brain. Constant lack of oxygen and nutrients in brain tissue causes inhibition of the respiratory center and transmission of pathological impulses to the muscles of the diaphragm. External manifestation such processes become: shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air, frequent, but not deep breathing.

A chiropractor answers the question of why it is difficult to breathe with osteochondrosis.

Features of the manifestation of shortness of breath

With cervical osteochondrosis, a feeling of incomplete inspiration and shortness of breath occur both at rest and with slight physical activity, both during the day and at night. During sleep, lack of air manifests itself in the form of snoring and short-term cessation of breathing. The patient's sleep becomes interrupted. In the morning he wakes up tired and overwhelmed.

The problem usually develops slowly: mild shortness of breath gradually turns into persistent attacks of suffocation, accompanied by a panic attack. The feeling that it is difficult to take a deep breath can be provoked by: an awkward and sharp turn of the head, sneezing.

With thoracic osteochondrosis, it is difficult to take a deep breath due to pain between the shoulder blades. When the intercostal nerve is pinched during inspiration, shooting pains occur. painful sensations in the area of ​​the ribs. Their intensity increases with walking, bending, turning the body, rotating the arms, sneezing and coughing. Due to the pronounced pain syndrome when the intercostal muscles are tense, breathing becomes frequent, but superficial.

Associated symptoms

Respiratory disorders appear as osteochondrosis progresses and are accompanied by other symptoms.

Signs of pathology cervical spine spine:

• Dizziness;
• Fainting;
• Tachycardia;
• Impaired coordination of movements;
• Pain, crunching when bending the neck;
• Deterioration of hearing and vision;
• Numbness, tingling of fingers;
• Increased drowsiness;
• Blueness of the fingertips and skin around the lips.

Another possible symptom cervical osteochondrosis – frequent yawning: this is the body’s reaction to oxygen deficiency in the brain tissues.

Suspect the presence thoracic osteochondrosis possible by the following criteria:

• Stiffness of movements in the thoracic region;
• Reducing the amount of side bending;
• Pain, and;
• Decreased ability to work.

With osteochondrosis, the feeling of a foreign body in the respiratory tract forces the patient to cough when taking a deep breath. On early stages development of osteochondrosis, dry, paroxysmal cough. As pathological processes progress, it becomes wet. The appearance of hoarseness in the voice and cardialgia syndrome are noted.

Possible consequences

Prolonged lack of air during osteochondrosis leads to severe hypoxia of the brain and internal organs, and death of brain cells. This can cause the development of true pathologies of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems - bronchitis, pneumonia, heart failure, asthma.

Other consequences of untimely treatment of osteochondrosis may be: impaired memory and thinking, encephalopathy, stroke. In severe cases, death may occur

How to check the functioning of the respiratory system

To check the condition of the lungs and exclude their pathology, there are several tests:

1. "Stange's test." We squat, take a deep breath and exhale, hold our breath for 40 seconds (if possible).
2. We light a candle, move away from it at a distance of 70-80 cm, and inhale. As we exhale, we try to blow out the fire.
3. We perform several squats, go down and immediately go up the stairs.
4. We inhale as deeply as possible and try to inflate the balloon with one exhalation.

If, when performing tests, a cough appears, pain in the chest or spine, the feeling of lack of air intensifies, and it is difficult to take a full breath, this indicates the presence of lung dysfunction. To make an accurate diagnosis, you must consult a doctor.

First aid for shortness of breath

To eliminate shortness of breath and the feeling of incomplete inspiration during osteochondrosis, you can do the following:

1. Release Airways, open the windows for fresh air.
2. Go outside.
3. Carry out inhalation based on essential oil eucalyptus, mint or citrus fruits, potato decoction or onion peels.
4. Make a foot bath with infusions medicinal herbs or mustard powder.
5. Use an inhaler, take medications for asthmatics (allowed as a last resort and only after prior consultation with a doctor).

All these measures help restore the rhythm and depth of breathing, but they only temporarily alleviate the symptoms of osteochondrosis. To completely get rid of shortness of breath and restore the ability to take a deep breath, you need to comprehensively treat the spine.

If the feeling of lack of air due to osteochondrosis cannot be relieved at home, you need to call an ambulance!

Diagnostics

The clinical manifestations of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis resemble diseases of the heart, blood vessels and lungs, and brain pathologies. To correctly determine the reason why it is difficult to take a full breath, it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis. First they prescribe:

• Blood analysis;
• Fluorography;
• Ultrasound of the heart muscle;
• Electroencephalography;
• Electrocardiogram.

If during these diagnostic procedures pathologies of internal organs and the brain are not detected, it is recommended comprehensive examination thoracic and cervical spine.

If necessary, an additional neurological examination is performed. It helps to localize and assess the degree of motor and sensory disorders.

How to treat effectively

We invite you to pay attention to a useful course that has helped a huge number of people suffering from osteochondrosis thoracic, improve the quality of your life.

The author of the course is an experienced doctor (detailed information by clicking on the link below), who has been compiling proper nutrition for osteochondrosis, thinks through sets of exercises and shares this with people. Hundreds of people experienced the effect of her courses and were grateful. Try it too, all the details are in the link below. And since we are partners, we offer a special coupon SALE30 which gives 30% discount when ordering a course!

Methods for treating shortness of breath in osteochondrosis

When the cause of insufficient inhalation is osteochondrosis, therapy should be aimed at reducing compression of the nerve roots and vessels of the thoracic or cervical spine. Drug and non-drug treatment is prescribed.

Drug therapy

• Relieve symptoms of the disease;
• Normalize breathing;
• Accelerate the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain tissues and internal organs;
• Slow down the progression of degenerative processes in the spine.

Drug treatment of shortness of breath in osteochondrosis involves the use of drugs for local use, oral or intramuscular administration.

In case of severe respiratory disorders, therapy can be supplemented with antiasthmatic drugs. The relief of asthma attacks is carried out with blockades with adrenaline.

Non-drug treatment

Non-drug therapy for difficulty breathing in osteochondrosis is prescribed after the main symptoms of the disease have been relieved. It includes: – relieves static tension in the spine, accelerates blood circulation, cleanses and clears the airways, improves lung ventilation;

One of the most effective auxiliary methods for treating difficulty breathing in osteochondrosis is physical therapy. Exercises aimed at working the muscles of the neck, thoracic region and shoulder girdle have a good effect:

1. As you inhale, slowly turn your head to the right, then to the left. As you exhale, rest your chin on your chest. Repeat 5-10 times.
2. Let's become. We keep our legs together, our arms along the body. Inhaling, we lift upper limbs, exhaling, we bend back. We lower our arms, lean forward (as we inhale), round our back and lower our shoulders and head (as we exhale). We do the exercise up to 10 times.
3. We throw our heads back and look at the ceiling. Slowly tilt it to the side, trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Repeat 5-8 times.
4. We sit on a chair with a back and lean on it. We bend back and hold for a few seconds. We lean forward and return to the starting position. We do this 5 times.

You need to perform the exercises smoothly and slowly, observing the rhythm of your breathing. If during exercise it becomes difficult to take a full breath, shortness of breath or chest pain or dizziness occurs, you should consult a doctor.

Prevention of shortness of breath in osteochondrosis involves eliminating factors that provoke tissue hypoxia, disruption of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and progression of pathological processes in the spine. Recommended:

1. Be outdoors more often.
2. Limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages as much as possible and stop smoking.
3. Perform daily exercises to work out the cervical and thoracic spine.
4. Go swimming, breathing exercises, yoga.
5. Sleep on an orthopedic bed.
6. Avoid excessive physical activity.
7. Control body weight.
8. Strengthen the immune system using medications and folk methods.
9. Carry out inhalations and aromatherapy with essential oils.

There are many reasons why it is difficult to take a full breath. This symptom is one of the signs of cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis, lung and heart diseases, and sometimes brain pathologies. It is difficult to independently determine the cause of insufficiently deep breathing and shortness of breath. Make the correct diagnosis, select effective treatment Only a doctor can.

We live in an ocean of air, in which the oxygen necessary for the life of higher organisms makes up one fifth. Consequently, people are accustomed to the fact that oxygen is around them, and the process of breathing, in which this life-giving gas enters the body, is a natural physiological process that most of us never think about. However, in some situations, some people may not have enough oxygen. This condition often manifests itself as a reaction such as shortness of breath. In itself, such a symptom is quite unpleasant, and besides, it may indicate various serious pathologies.

What is shortness of breath

The respiratory process, despite its apparent simplicity, is quite complex. It involves many groups of organs and systems of the body:

• upper respiratory tract (mouth, nasal cavity, pharynx),
• lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi),
• right and left lung,
• heart,
• blood and vessels,
• muscles,
• brain and nervous system.

The process of inhalation is carried out due to the expansion of the chest. After we inhale a small portion of air containing oxygen, this gas must pass through the upper and lower respiratory tract and enter special paired organs - the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen enters special chambers - alveoli, in which it dissolves in the blood and binds to the protein hemoglobin contained in red blood cells - erythrocytes. Hemoglobin with arterial blood flow delivers oxygen to all tissues and cells. The venous system delivers gases that are toxic to the body to the lungs. First of all, it is carbon dioxide. These gases are then exhaled outside.

The breathing process also involves an organ such as the heart, which pumps blood into the pulmonary circulation, which includes the lungs, as well as the muscles of the diaphragm, which mechanically expand the chest and pump air into the lungs. Contraction of the chest and exhalation are also carried out using the diaphragm. The amplitude of movement of the diaphragm during breathing is only 4 cm.

A special center located in the brain controls the process of chest movement during breathing. This center is called the respiratory center. It is extremely resistant to external influences, and stops working only after all other parts of the brain are unable to perform their functions. The respiratory center supports breathing regardless of consciousness - and that is why we do not think about the fact that we need to breathe, and how exactly we need to do it. On the other hand, control of breathing can also be achieved through willpower. Commands issued by the brain are sent through the spinal cord and special nerves to the muscles of the diaphragm, causing the chest to move.

From all of the above, it is clear that breathing is a very complex process, and it is enough to damage one element of such a multi-level system for a person to experience breathing problems. The body's need for oxygen can change depending on circumstances, and breathing can adapt to them. If organs and tissues lack oxygen, the brain perceives their signals. As a result, chest movements become more intense and balance in the body is restored.

Types of shortness of breath

Often the type of this phenomenon indicates the nature of the pathology that is observed in the patient. The normal breathing rate of an adult is about 18 times per second. Increased breathing is called tachypne. With rapid breathing, this process occurs more than 20 times per second. The pathological form of tachypnea is characteristic of anemia, blood diseases and fever. The highest frequency of chest movement is determined during hysteria - 60-80 times per second.

The decrease in breathing is called bradypnoe (less than 12 respiratory movements per second). Bradypnea is typical for:

• damage to the brain and meninges,
• acidosis,
• severe hypoxia,
• diabetic coma.

Hyperventilation is sometimes called hyperpnea. And breathing disorders in general are called dyspnea (translated from Greek as “interruption of breathing”). A type of shortness of breath that occurs only in a horizontal position is orthopnea.

Sometimes any tachypnea is called dyspnea. But that's not true. Many people may experience a lack of oxygen even when their breathing rate is normal. And increased breathing does not always have a pathological nature. The defining characteristic of dyspnea is a feeling of discomfort, lack of air, and difficulty in inhaling or exhaling. With rapid breathing and hyperpnea, there is often no discomfort; they may simply not be felt.

According to the common classification, shortness of breath can be:

• normal, occurring under heavy load;
• psychogenic, observed in hypochondriacal patients who suspect they have lung and heart diseases;
• somatic, caused by objective pathological processes in organs.

Classification of the severity of shortness of breath depending on physical activity

In this classification, attention should be paid to shortness of breath, starting with moderate, mild degree shortness of breath is most likely a sign of detraining of the body.

With shortness of breath, patients can define their condition in different ways:

• like a state of suffocation,
• like a heaviness in the chest,
• like tiredness in my chest,
• like lack of air,
• as incomplete filling of the lungs with air,
• like a feeling of fullness in the chest.

When breathing is impaired, other manifestations of pathology are also important, for example, chest pain. In some diseases, pain appears during inhalation or exhalation, while in others, pain does not depend on respiratory movements.

Somatic dyspnea can be compensated or decompensated. In the first case, the lack of oxygen is compensated by rapid or increased breathing. With decompensated shortness of breath, the body can no longer use any compensatory mechanism, so signs of hypoxia are observed. Although outwardly shortness of breath in this case may not be so noticeable.

Shortness of breath with difficulty breathing

This type of shortness of breath is called inspiratory. Inspiratory dyspnea may be accompanied by pain when inhaling. A patient with such breathing feels as if he is not taking in enough air. Inspiratory dyspnea is often one of the manifestations of pulmonary diseases (pleurisy, fibrosis, tumors), diseases large bronchi and trachea. Shortness of breath with discomfort on inspiration occurs in heart failure and coronary heart disease.

Shortness of breath with difficulty in exhaling

Shortness of breath with discomfort or pain when exhaling is called expiratory. Exhalation with difficulty can be caused by a narrowing of the lumen of the small bronchi. A similar phenomenon may be caused by their spasm or the accumulation of secretions in them. Shortness of breath with difficulty in exhaling is often observed during attacks of bronchial asthma. Also, expiratory shortness of breath can be a symptom of some pulmonary pathologies, for example, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mixed dyspnea

This is the name of the most severe type of this condition, in which any type of movement of the chest is difficult - both inhalation and exhalation. Mixed shortness of breath often occurs if the patient has both bronchial asthma, and heart failure, with panic attacks, with anemia and anemia, thromboembolism pulmonary artery.

Classification of types of dyspnea

Subjective and objective shortness of breath

Shortness of breath can also be divided into subjective and objective. Subjective shortness of breath is characteristic of various neurosis-like conditions. At the same time, the lack of air exists from the patient’s point of view, but in fact he may not have any problems with breathing. The patient may not notice objective shortness of breath, and it may seem to him that he is breathing without difficulty. However, respiratory failure is objectively observed. Changes indicate this normal frequency respiratory movements, breathing rhythm, depth of inhalation and exhalation. In most cases, however, the patient notices objective shortness of breath. This type of shortness of breath is called combined.

What are the dangers of shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath in most cases indicates a certain lack of oxygen in organs and tissues. And this condition threatens the development of hypoxia of various organs, and, first of all, the brain. Dyspnea in adults impairs quality of life. If you have difficulty breathing, it is impossible to get proper sleep, exercise, or communicate with other people. Therefore, it is necessary to treat shortness of breath, or more precisely, to treat the diseases that cause it.

What is hypoxia and why is it dangerous?

Hypoxia is a state of lack of oxygen in the body. Hypoxemia should be separated from its special case – hypoxemia. This is the name given to the lack of this substance in the blood. Hypoxemia always entails hypoxia, but hypoxia is not always accompanied by hypoxemia.

Among the main types of hypoxia, it should be noted:

• respiratory,
• circulatory,
• anemic,
• toxic,
• fabric,
• reloading

With hypoxia caused by breathing problems, there is a certain decrease in the amount of O2 entering the blood from the lungs. The condition of respiratory hypoxia can occur either due to a lack of gas in the air or due to impaired lung function. The causes of circulatory hypoxia are circulatory disorders. Anemic hypoxia occurs when there is a lack of blood in the body, or the blood cannot perform its respiratory function. Toxic hypoxia is a condition caused by impaired delivery of O2 to tissues due to the presence of toxic substances in the body. With overload hypoxia, the body is unable to increase O2 supplies under conditions of increased load. Tissue hypoxia is caused by the inability of organs to absorb oxygen. This situation is typical, for example, for poisoning.

With mixed type hypoxia, its different varieties can be observed simultaneously.

First of all, such an important organ as the brain suffers from a lack of O2. Signs indicating this:

• drowsiness,
• dull pain in the head
• slow thinking,
• dizziness,
• frequent yawning,
• irritability.

If oxygen enters the organs in insufficient quantities, this condition not only affects breathing, but also forces the body to use mechanisms to save precious gas. So, for example, instead of aerobic glycolysis, another type of metabolism may be observed - anaerobic glycolysis. This leads to a buildup of lactic acid and can cause acidosis.

Severe hypoxia can lead to irreversible consequences such as damage to various organs and death of neurons in the brain, which, in turn, threatens coma, cerebral edema and death.

Diagnosis of the causes of shortness of breath

A situation such as breathing problems does not just arise on its own. And shortness of breath is not an independent disease. It indicates some pathological processes occurring in organs and tissues. And the doctor’s task is to identify in which organs dysfunctions are observed.

If a patient comes to the therapist with a complaint of shortness of breath, the doctor usually asks him the following questions:

• How long ago did you have shortness of breath?
• When does an attack occur - only during exertion, or can it occur even in the absence of it?
• What type of dyspnea does it have? What is accompanied by more discomfort – inhalation or exhalation?
• Is there a body position that makes breathing easier?
• Are there other symptoms associated with shortness of breath, such as pain?

After this, the doctor must examine the patient, listen to his chest, listen to his breathing. This will allow us to draw conclusions about the condition of the heart muscle and lungs. Many pathologies of these organs are revealed by auscultation.

The doctor can prescribe several types of studies at once that determine the condition of the most important organs:

• ECG of the heart at rest and during physical activity,
• echo-CG,
• determination of lung volume,
• general blood analysis,
• chest x-ray.

You may also need 24-hour ECG monitoring, MRI, and CT scan chest organs.

Causes of shortness of breath and lack of air

Shortness of breath does not always manifest itself as evidence of some kind of illness. Indeed, often there may actually be a lack of O2 in the air. This can happen, for example, in high mountains, where there is low atmospheric pressure, or in a stuffy, unventilated room. Such shortness of breath, which is not pathological in nature, is called physiological.

Physiological shortness of breath also manifests itself during intense physical exercise, strong emotions, and stress. The threshold for the appearance of shortness of breath in these cases is largely individual. So, a master of sports in running can run a kilometer without losing his breath. But an office worker who does not play sports, and even has excess weight, may feel shortness of breath, even with slight exertion, for example, climbing the stairs to the third floor. The latter fact will only indicate a person’s detraining, his body’s low tolerance to physical activity. At the same time, he may not have any diseases, and all organs will be relatively healthy. Of course, this condition is not entirely normal, and should be a reason to improve your physical shape. However, it is also not evidence of pathologies. But if it becomes noticeable that your exercise tolerance drops sharply and inexplicably, and shortness of breath appears even with very little physical activity, or even during moments of rest, then this is a cause for serious concern. Especially if this phenomenon is accompanied by pain.

The mechanism of tachypnea during stress is also clear. Under stress, there is an increased synthesis of the hormone adrenaline in the adrenal glands. Adrenaline accelerates all processes in the body, makes all organs work more actively, and the heart contracts with double force and frequency. At the same time, breathing also becomes more frequent.

However, shortness of breath can often occur due to some pathological phenomena in the body. It is customary to identify the following main reasons that can cause this condition:

• oxygen deficiency in the blood (hypoxemia) and problems with the hematopoietic organs,
• problems with the cardiovascular system,
• pulmonary pathologies,
• neurological pathologies and problems with the central nervous system,
• allergic reactions,
• thyrotoxicosis.

Conditions such as obesity and diabetes can also contribute to shortness of breath.

Shortness of breath can also appear due to poisoning by certain toxic substances in the air, for example, carbon monoxide, or mechanical blockage of the respiratory tract by a foreign body.

The possibility of chest injuries should not be discounted. These may be rib fractures or simple bruises, in which inhalation is difficult or painful, and the patient feels like there is not enough air. Dyspnea can also be caused by a change in the shape of the chest and, as a result, the lungs, under the influence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, and defects of the thoracic vertebrae. Orthopedic doctors treat these types of diseases.

Obesity

Few people know that this condition is actually a disease. This does not mean, of course, a situation where the weight is increased by 5 kilograms compared to the norm, but a severe stage of pathology, in which fat begins to put pressure on the internal organs - the heart and lungs. Therefore, when breathing, these organs have to make double the effort to do their job. Dyspnea can occur both during physical activity and at rest. Treatment of this condition should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. The most useful in treatment will be dosed physical exercise, diet, taking medications.

Lack of oxygen in the blood

This condition is called hypoxemia. The normal blood oxygen saturation value is 96-98%. Saturation refers to the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) to unsaturated hemoglobin. Arterial blood is used to measure O2 concentration. Venous blood is not suitable for this purpose. Hypoxemia is recorded when the saturation level is less than 90%.

The main causes of hypoxemia:

• hypoventilation of the lungs - a condition in which oxygen enters the body more slowly than it is consumed;
• decrease in oxygen concentration in the air - due to prolonged stay in a stuffy room, during a fire, etc.;
• heart defects associated with mixing of venous and arterial blood;
• increased blood circulation rate, leading to insufficient saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen;
• reduction in the total hemoglobin content in the body due to anemia.

Factors provoking hypoxemia:

• blood diseases,
• heart disease,
• lung diseases,
• sudden changes in atmospheric pressure,
• smoking,
• excess weight,
• general anesthesia.

Hypoxemia can appear in newborns due to oxygen deficiency in the mother's body during pregnancy.

Signs of the early stage of hypoxemia:

• tachypnea;
• tachycardia;
• drop in blood pressure;
• pallor;
• weakness, drowsiness, apathy.

Any of these symptoms is, in fact, an adaptive mechanism that encourages the body to conserve oxygen.

The severe stage of hypoxemia manifests itself the following types symptoms:

• cyanosis,
• dyspnea,
• tachycardia,
• the appearance of cold sweat,
• swelling of the lower extremities,
• dizziness,
• fainting,
• tremor of the limbs,
• heart and respiratory failure,
• memory disorders,
• deterioration in concentration,
• emotional lability.

IN childhood hypoxemia develops faster, and its symptoms are more clearly expressed. This is due to the fact that the child’s organs experience a greater relative need for oxygen. In addition, compensatory mechanisms are less developed in children.

What types of symptoms can identify hypoxemia in newborns:

• apnea,
• irregular breathing pattern,
• cyanosis,
• weak sucking reflex,
• weak muscle tone,
• decreased motor activity.

Hypoxemia in newborns requires emergency medical attention, as it can lead to fatal outcome.

Hypoxemia in an older child may be a consequence of congenital heart disease. For young children with heart defects, it is often easier to breathe while squatting, as this allows blood to flow out of the legs. Tachypnea is usually observed in such cases.

Shortness of breath with anemia

Dyspnea may be one of the symptoms of anemia or anemia. However, not always with anemia there is a real blood deficiency in the body. The defining sign of anemia is an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the body.

Anemia can be caused by bleeding and blood loss, a lack of certain compounds in the body, and diseases of the hematopoietic system. Most diseases associated with anemia are also accompanied by general weakness, loss of strength, and pallor skin. It is also common for hematogenous dyspnea to occur in pathologies such as renal and liver failure, and poisoning. The process of inhalation and exhalation during hematogenous dyspnea is usually not disturbed, and pathological abnormalities are also not found in the most important organs - the lungs and heart. However, the patient complains of lack of air.

According to the pathogenetic classification, several types of disease can be noted:

• iron deficiency anemia associated with iron deficiency in the blood;
• anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency;
• anemia associated with folic acid deficiency;
• dyshematopoietic anemia associated with impaired hematopoiesis;
• posthemorrhagic anemia caused by bleeding;
• hemolytic anemia caused by accelerated destruction of red blood cells.

Depending on the saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin, there are:

• hypochromic anemia,
• normochromic anemia,
• hyperchromic anemia.

Anemia is easily diagnosed by a complete blood count. Symptoms of anemia:

• general weakness,
• headache,
• lack of appetite,
• sleep disorders,
• pale skin,
• disturbances of memory, attention, concentration.

Such symptoms of anemia, as a rule, appear much earlier than shortness of breath.

With severe anemia, heart failure may develop, which, in turn, leads to worsening dyspnea.

Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency also leads to loss of skin sensitivity. With anemia caused by liver disease, jaundice may occur.

Frequent occurrence iron deficiency anemia observed during pregnancy. This is due to the increased need of the mother’s body for iron, which is used for the formation of the fetus. Anemia during pregnancy can lead to abnormal development of the child, abnormalities in its organs, and premature birth.

Anemia Treatment Methods

- a disease requiring emergency treatment. Treatment of anemia should be focused on the causes that caused this condition. If anemia is caused by a lack of vitamins and microelements, then a diet is prescribed that contains the necessary components in the required quantities. Anemia caused by iron deficiency is treated with iron supplements. The same applies to anemia resulting from bleeding. If severe anemia is diagnosed, then hospitalization is necessary.

Thyrotoxicosis

With thyrotoxicosis, hormone production increases thyroid gland. This causes the heart to beat faster, but it also interferes with the flow of blood to the organs. Oxygen starvation leads to rapid breathing. Treatment of thyrotoxicosis is carried out by prescribing special drugs.

Cardiovascular diseases

The heart is the most important organ, and its improper functioning affects all processes in the body. In many heart pathologies, blood output is insufficient or the blood is insufficiently saturated with oxygen as it passes through the pulmonary circulation. Such pathologies include:

• ischemic disease hearts,
• arrhythmias,
• heart defects (congenital or acquired as a result of inflammatory processes in the heart),
• hypertonic disease,
• paroxysmal tachycardia,
• heart failure,
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Any of these diseases at a certain stage manifests itself as shortness of breath. In addition to this symptom, others may be present:

• weakness;
• attacks of dizziness;
• heartache;
• swelling, especially in the legs;
• Blue colour skin.

Paroxysmal tachycardia

Paroxysmal tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia in which the heart rate is significantly higher than normal. However, the normal force of contractions is not ensured, therefore, the organs do not receive proper blood supply. The patient feels a strong heartbeat and lack of air, including during moments of rest. In many cases, paroxysmal tachycardia goes away on its own. If this does not happen, the doctor prescribes antiarrhythmic drugs.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetically determined disease in which there is an enlargement of the walls of the heart muscle. A hyperphytated heart cannot pump blood normally and deliver it to all the organs that need it. Over time, the disease leads to chronic heart failure. Symptoms of the disease are pain and dyspnea, especially after physical exertion, disturbances of consciousness, dizziness, and fainting.

Cardiac ischemia

Coronary heart disease is the most common heart disease in the world and one of the most common causes of death. The essence of the disease is that the coronary vessels of the heart become clogged with atherosclerotic plaques, and the lumen in them becomes greatly narrowed, which causes hypoxia to occur in the tissues of the heart, leading to heart failure. The heart usually signals hypoxia through acute pain. Most often, pain occurs during physical activity. Often the first sign of the disease is shortness of breath. Initially, it occurs only with relatively little physical activity. As the disease progresses, shortness of breath increases, and soon it may appear even when doing housework or at rest. If IHD is not accompanied by pain (painless form), shortness of breath is sometimes the only serious symptom.

Hypertonic disease

This is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system. Hypertension has recently ceased to be the prerogative of only older people. It is often observed in people 30-40 years old. Hypertension negatively affects almost all organs - the heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels. Shortness of breath in hypertension is not the main symptom; however, it can accompany the disease at the decompensated stage, as well as during hypertensive crises, when sudden surges in pressure occur. In addition to shortness of breath, a patient with chronic hypertension may experience:

• dizziness,
• headache,
• noise in ears,
• flickering of flies before the eyes,
• flushes of blood to the face,
• increased fatigue and low resistance to stress.

Myocardial infarction

An attack of shortness of breath can accompany this terrible disease. Shortness of breath during a heart attack is usually accompanied by severe and burning pain in the chest, which at first glance resembles angina pectoris (an attack of coronary artery disease). However, if the pain of angina pectoris always goes away after taking nitroglycerin, then this does not happen with myocardial infarction.

In addition to pain and difficulty breathing, a heart attack is characterized by the following symptoms:

The appearance of sticky and cold sweat
fear of death
sensations of irregular heartbeat
sudden drop in blood pressure

Heart failure

This deficiency is a condition that occurs when various diseases hearts. With CHF, the heart does not sufficiently supply blood to the organs, and they experience oxygen starvation. Diseases such as heart defects, hypertension, coronary artery disease, endocarditis and myocarditis lead to CHF.

In chronic heart failure, shortness of breath can occur both with slight physical exertion and during moments of rest.

In addition to shortness of breath, symptoms of CHF include:

• swelling in the lower extremities,
• dry heart cough,
• cyanosis (blue color of the skin),
• pain in the heart area,
• weakness,
• general malaise,
• dizziness,
• fainting.

The nature of shortness of breath in cardiac pathologies

Cardiac dyspnea, which appears in most cardiac pathologies, is of the inspiratory type. This means that when breathing, it is difficult for the patient to take a deep breath. Often, breathing problems worsen in a horizontal position. This leads to the patient being unable to sleep in bed. In order to fall asleep, he has to take a characteristic semi-lying or sitting position. A similar condition often occurs when cardiovascular diseases lead to CHF. This phenomenon is explained by overflow of the chambers of the heart when the body is in a horizontal position. This type of shortness of breath is called orthopnea.

The mechanism of development of shortness of breath in heart failure

CHF negatively affects almost all organs. And the lungs are no exception. Ventricular failure leads to decreased cardiac output. Hypoxia develops, and the cells send a signal to the brain about the need to resort to more intense breathing. This is expressed in the appearance of respiratory discomfort, which can be observed both during exercise and in its absence. Also, if there is insufficiency of the left ventricle, blood stagnation may occur in the lungs. This leads to a phenomenon called cardiac asthma. The appearance of cardiac asthma is a dangerous symptom, since stagnation of blood in the lungs can lead to their swelling.

Cardiac asthma

The most severe and pronounced type of shortness of breath with cardiovascular diseases is cardiac asthma. In cardiac asthma, an attack of shortness of breath can last for several hours and turns into suffocation. It is caused by stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation. Usually the attack occurs at night. Cardiac asthma is characteristic of diseases such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, chronic nephritis. An attack of cardiac asthma threatens the patient with pulmonary edema.

Treatment of cardiovascular pathologies

Dyspnea is just a symptom, so it does not require treatment in itself. It is necessary to fight the disease that caused it. To do this, you first need to undergo a diagnostic course. The most common diagnostic procedures for cardiovascular diseases - ECG and Echo-CG (ultrasound of the heart). Often, cardiac pathologies are disguised as pulmonary pathologies; this must be kept in mind when conducting diagnostics. This is why it is necessary to check various organs, not just the lungs and airways.

If the patient’s heart problems are confirmed, it will be necessary to begin a course of treatment. The treatment method depends on the nature of the pathology. In most cases, treatment is conservative. It includes taking medications, diet, and dosing of physical activity. The most common drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases:

• beta blockers;
• antiarrhythmic drugs;
• vitamin complexes, metabolic agents and microelements;
• anticoagulants;
• hypotonic drugs;
• cardiac glycosides;
• statins (drugs for lowering blood cholesterol);
• diuretics (diacarb, veroshpiron).

In some cases (heart defects, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias), treatment may be surgical. For arrhythmia, pacemakers can be used.

Lung diseases

Almost any pulmonary pathology and disease of the lower respiratory tract is accompanied by shortness of breath. Pathologies of both infectious and non-infectious nature can lead to impaired breathing.

Among the infectious diseases accompanied by interruptions in breathing are:

• tuberculosis,
• actinomycosis of the lungs.

Pulmonary dyspnea can also be caused by non-infectious diseases:

• pulmonary embolism;
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• emphysema;
• pneumothorax;
• sarcoidosis;
• tumors of the lungs, upper or lower respiratory tract;
• foreign bodies in the respiratory tract;
• pulmonary edema due to poisoning with toxic substances;
• acute respiratory distress syndrome;
• pulmonary vasculitis;
• silicosis.

The mechanism of development of shortness of breath in diseases respiratory system may be due to:

• airway obstruction,
• insufficient blood supply to the lungs,
• inflammatory processes in the lungs.

All these factors ultimately lead to difficulty breathing for the patient. The nervous system, which receives signals from the respiratory tract and lung tissue, also takes part in the formation of the feeling of discomfort observed during breathing.

The rate of development of shortness of breath in lung diseases

With pathologies of the lungs and bronchi, dyspnea can appear either suddenly, as with pleurisy, pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism, or develop gradually, over months or even years, as with COPD.

Other symptoms for pulmonary diseases of the lungs and bronchial pathologies

Typically, pulmonary shortness of breath is not the only symptom of respiratory tract disease. As a rule, it is accompanied by a chest cough (dry or with sputum). Sometimes it may be accompanied by hemoptysis. In infectious diseases, the patient usually has a high temperature (with tuberculosis, the temperature is usually only slightly elevated). There may be increased sweating. Chest pain is also common.

Risk factors contributing to the development of pulmonary diseases are smoking (including passive smoking), unfavorable environmental conditions, and diseases of other organs, primarily the heart.

Pulmonary vasculitis

Pulmonary vasculitis is a disease affecting the vascular system of the lungs. Vessels of other organs may also be affected. In this case, blood flow is disrupted and dyspnea appears. The disease is also accompanied by symptoms such as fever. Often this circumstance is the reason that patients and even doctors mistake vasculitis for pneumonia, and the disease is treated incorrectly.

Vasculitis can negatively affect other organs, leading, for example, to kidney dysfunction. Increased blood pressure, polyneuritis, weight loss, and pain in muscles and joints may also be observed. However, these symptoms usually appear much later than shortness of breath.

If vessels are affected abdominal cavity, you may experience abdominal pain. Thus, making a correct diagnosis of vasculitis is highly difficult. The disease is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis can be either chronic or acute. At acute bronchitis In addition to shortness of breath, the following symptoms are observed:

• increased body temperature;
• runny nose;
• a sore throat;
• chest cough, dry or wet;
• general weakness.

For bronchitis, antibacterial or antiviral drugs, expectorants and bronchodilators. For acute bronchitis, if it is accompanied high temperature, the patient needs rest and bed rest.

With chronic bronchitis, breathing problems can either be constant or occur during periods of exacerbation. Chronic bronchitis does not always have infectious nature. It can be caused by bronchial irritation from tobacco smoke, allergens or chemicals. In any case, bronchitis leads to heavy breathing in the patient.

For the treatment of chronic bronchitis use:

• bronchodilators;
• expectorants;
• antiviral, antihistamine or antibacterial drugs(depending on the etiology of the disease).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Many people confuse chronic bronchitis and COPD. However, in reality these are completely different diseases.

COPD is often caused by prolonged inhalation of tobacco smoke and prolonged work in dusty air. The disease can lead to emphysema.

In COPD, the narrowing of the bronchi becomes irreversible, although it can be slowed down with medications. Mainly small bronchi and bronchioles are affected. There is an increase in shortness of breath over time. The symptom is of an expiratory type. This means that the patient experiences the greatest difficulty when exhaling.

For diagnosis of COPD spirography, chest radiography in several projections, and sputum analysis are used.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia or pneumonia is the most common pulmonary pathology and one of the most dangerous. With almost any form of pneumonia, some degree of shortness of breath is observed.

In addition to shortness of breath, the following characteristic symptoms can be observed:

• heat;
• severe cough associated with purulent discharge;
• chest pain, often indicating the location of the inflammation.

The patient's skin most often has a pale tint, sometimes acquiring a bluish color

Dyspnea with pneumonia is usually of a mixed type. This means that the patient experiences the same discomfort when inhaling and exhaling.

An advanced case of pneumonia may be accompanied by the development of CHF, which is still to a greater extent worsens dyspnea.

A very dangerous pathology is pulmonary embolism. This pulmonary pathology is caused by blockage of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus. The cause of thromboembolism is most often thrombophlebitis of the leg veins. Thrombophlebitis often occurs with fairly mild symptoms, such as cramps, swelling of the limb and pain. Therefore, the patient often does not pay attention to them special attention. However, from the veins, blood clots can travel to the pulmonary arteries, leading to their blockage and death of part of the lung. Thromboembolism is also often a consequence of blood stagnation due to prolonged immobility of the human body, for example, after surgery.

The first manifestations of thromboembolism often appear abruptly, against the background of complete health. A person quickly develops respiratory failure, severe dyspnea occurs, which can then develop into acute asphyxia. The patient is also bothered by characteristic stabbing pain in the chest, painful inhalation, and a painful cough. Blood pressure usually decreases. The face may take on a bluish color. CHF develops, the size of the liver and spleen increases, and ascites appears.

Thromboembolism threatens cardiac arrest and death. To diagnose thromboembolism, ECG, chest x-ray, and angiopulmography are used. To prevent thromboembolism, it is necessary to fight thrombophlebitis, consult a doctor if you have problems with your legs - swelling, pain, heaviness, cramps.

Pneumothorax

With pneumothorax, air enters the pleural cavity (the lining of the lung) from the external environment or from the lungs themselves. At the same time, the respiratory surface of the lung decreases. In addition to shortness of breath, pneumothorax is also accompanied by chest pain.

Toxic pulmonary edema

Toxic pulmonary edema occurs as a result of exposure to the body of toxins such as carbon monoxide, methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, and salicylates. Also, toxic edema can appear as a result of a long-term infectious disease.

At the beginning of the onset of edema, dyspnea occurs with a rapid rhythm. Soon this condition may be replaced by an attack of suffocation. If urgent measures are not taken to detoxify the body, the patient may die.

Lung tumors

It is not so rare that shortness of breath can be a consequence of such a serious illness as a lung tumor. Most of the patients are people who abuse smoking. However, this disease can also appear in passive smokers, as well as due to poor environmental conditions and the presence of carcinogenic substances in the air. In addition to shortness of breath, patients with lung tumors are bothered by frequent hacking cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain. Patients complain of weakness, lethargy, and sudden weight loss. To diagnose tumors, radiography, computed tomography, and blood donation for tumor markers are used.

Diagnosis of lung diseases

To determine the type of disease, the doctor examines and listens to the patient, asks about his symptoms - pain, the nature of dyspnea, etc. Chest radiography, blood tests, bronchoscopy (endoscopic examination of the lungs), computed tomography, and spirography are used to diagnose pulmonary diseases. Spirography studies the function of external respiration and allows you to determine lung volume. A specialist, a pulmonologist, treats lung diseases.

Treatment methods for lung disease

Until the underlying lung disease is addressed, treatment of the shortness of breath itself will not be successful.

Treatment methods for lung diseases depend on their genesis. If the pathology is infectious, for example, with pneumonia and tuberculosis, antibiotics are used. In other cases, treatment is predominantly symptomatic. If shortness of breath is caused by a foreign body that has entered the respiratory tract, then it must be removed. Surgery may be required for this purpose.

Cerebral pathologies and neuroses

Since the respiratory center is located in the brain, it cannot but be affected by various pathological processes occurring in the nervous system. Dyspnea is often observed under stress, neurotic conditions, cerebrovascular accidents, strokes, panic attacks, tumors, injuries, and encephalitis. Typically, respiratory disorders of cerebral origin are accompanied by other symptoms - sensory disturbances, paralysis, palpitations, headaches, dizziness.

With neuroses, hysteria, and stress, dyspnea is observed in approximately 3 out of 4 cases. Often the patient has anxiety and fear of death. With panic attacks and anxiety, dizziness, increased heartbeat, sensations of heart fluttering, and tingling in the chest are also observed.

Sometimes dyspnea in this situation can resemble an asthma attack. However, despite the apparent feeling of lack of air, the patient may have no objective signs of hypoxia. During moments of rest, for example, during sleep, no signs of dyspnea are observed either. Neurotic conditions are treated by prescribing sedatives - tranquilizers and antidepressants. Patients also need to establish a daily routine, properly alternate between rest and physical activity, normalize sleep, and get rid of stress and fatigue.

Neurological pathologies

In addition, shortness of breath can often be caused by damage or inflammation of the nerves responsible for the functioning of the diaphragm. This situation can be observed in osteochondrosis, a disease in which degradation of the intervertebral discs occurs. In this case, the patient may experience sharp pains, aggravated by movements. Inhalation is also accompanied by pain.

An attack of thoracic radiculitis can often simulate heart attack, especially if pain is observed on the left. Treatment for these types of conditions includes physical therapy, physiotherapy, taking anti-inflammatory and painkillers. Also, disturbances in the movement of the diaphragmatic muscles can be observed during strokes, when one or another side of the body is immobilized.

Neuritis of the intercostal nerve can also be one of the signs of herpes zoster. With this phenomenon, the patient may feel pain when inhaling. Another possible cause of damage to the nerves responsible for contraction of the diaphragmatic muscles could be poliomyelitis - acute infection viral nature.

Shortness of breath caused by the gastrointestinal tract

Dyspnea may also be associated with gastrointestinal tract. Fullness of the stomach after a heavy meal, severe flatulence - these phenomena can cause the diaphragm to rise and, as a result, difficulty breathing.

Pregnancy

A woman may experience shortness of breath during pregnancy. In such a case, the cause is the increased size of the uterus containing the fetus inside. In addition, the release of female hormones can stimulate tachypnea. Dyspnea during pregnancy increases after meals or at night, and can occur during moments of rest. If the normal frequency of respiratory movements is 16-18 times per minute, then in a pregnant woman it can be 22-24 times. In later stages, the state of shortness of breath becomes more pronounced.

This phenomenon does not pose a serious danger. A woman is advised to reduce food portions while increasing the number of meals.

However, here the expectant mother needs to be careful, because dyspnea during pregnancy can be caused by other pathological phenomena that are more dangerous, for example, anemia, hidden heart disease. Therefore, if a pregnant woman experiences respiratory problems, it is best to ask a doctor for advice.

Allergic reactions

Another possible cause of dyspnea may be allergic reactions. This phenomenon is most common in bronchial asthma. This is the name of a chronic bronchial disease, most often observed as a result of exposure to various allergens. Also, breathing difficulties can be observed with Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Bronchial asthma

With bronchial asthma, a sharp narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi occurs. This attack can cause real agony for the patient. The skin turns blue, panic and convulsions appear, and the patient may lose consciousness. This condition can be fatal. Respiratory disorders in bronchial asthma are usually characterized by the expiratory type. This means that the patient has difficulty breathing out. Most often, attacks of bronchial asthma occur at night or early in the morning. Bronchial asthma appears as a reaction to various allergens in the air. It could be house dust, plant pollen, aerosols, animal hair.

During a prolonged attack, pain may appear in the lower chest, in the muscles associated with the diaphragm, cough and a feeling of chest congestion. Very little or no sputum is produced. Usually a small amount of sputum may pass at the end of the attack.

It is important to note that attacks of bronchial asthma are most often observed after direct contact of the patient with allergens. This could be pollen, animal dander, chemicals, dust, etc.

Also, bronchial asthma can often be accompanied by other types of allergic reactions - edema, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, etc.

Classes of drugs used in the treatment of bronchial asthma:

• anticholinergics,
• adrenomimetics,
• corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs.

To relieve attacks of bronchial asthma, aerosols containing bronchodilators are usually used.

A severe form of an asthma attack is called status asthmaticus. Status asthmaticus develops like a normal attack, but is not relieved by taking bronchodilators. Status asthmaticus can lead the patient into a coma and requires emergency medical attention.

Quincke's edema

Another form allergic reaction, often accompanied by dyspnea -. The immediate cause of this allergic reaction is close contact with the allergen. This could be, for example, insect venom, pollen, food product, or medicine. Quincke's edema often appears on the skin and mucous membranes. It can also affect some internal organs. If it affects the neck and throat, the airway may be partially blocked due to swelling. This leads to shortness of breath. Quincke's edema is extremely life-threatening, since if the upper respiratory tract is completely blocked, the patient can die from suffocation.

Anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock is an even more serious condition that is caused by allergens entering the body. For anaphylactic shock characteristic:

• pressure drop;
• swelling;
• hypoxia;
• cyanosis;
• laryngospasm and bronchospasm, causing an attack of suffocation.

Loss of consciousness, fainting, and in the absence of help, death are possible.

In case of anaphylactic shock or angioedema, you should immediately take (or administer intravenously) epinephrine, antihistamines or corticosteroids and consult a doctor. Hospitalization may be required.

If shortness of breath is at rest

If this phenomenon appears during moments of rest, in the absence of any physical activity, then this symptom should make you wary. A possible cause of dyspnea at rest is a severe stage of coronary artery disease, which can lead to myocardial infarction. It is especially worth paying attention to the situation when dyspnea is observed not just at moments of rest, but when the patient lies or takes a horizontal position. This type of dyspnea is called orthopnea. It is characteristic of left ventricular CHF.

Also, with shortness of breath at rest, the cause may lie in pulmonary pathologies - bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, bronchial asthma. Therefore, if dyspnea appears during moments of rest, you must immediately consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.

Why does shortness of breath appear after eating?

A slight increase in respiratory movements may also occur in healthy people. This syndrome is familiar to anyone who leaves festive table. The cause of the syndrome may be an overfilled stomach, which interferes with contractions of the diaphragm. This phenomenon can be aggravated by flatulence, especially if a lot of carbonated drinks have been drunk.

However, it often appears even after the lightest snack, which, of course, cannot be considered normal. Here you should be examined for the presence of pathologies of various organs. Among them may be:

• bronchitis,
• arrhythmias,
• anxiety disorders.

The gastrointestinal tract may also be the cause. Dyspnea after eating can be observed with such pathologies as:

• irritable bowel syndrome,
• stomach ulcer,
• GERD,

Dyspnea after eating can also be caused by an allergy to a certain product. You can identify this product quite simply - you just need to monitor what exactly you eat and after what dishes unpleasant sensations appear. If a dangerous product is identified, then it is necessary to remove not only it, but also related products from the diet. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts, then with a high degree of probability an allergy to regular nuts (almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts) may also appear at some point.

The most allergenic foods, in addition to peanuts and tree nuts, also include:

• wheat,
• milk,
• fish,
• seafood,
• eggs.

The presence of an allergy to some food requires treatment by an allergist, since at any time the patient may develop severe allergic reactions after eating, such as Quincke's edema or even anaphylactic shock.

The mechanism of persistent shortness of breath in adults

Persistent dyspnea is a complex phenomenon that has several physiological mechanisms:

• Hering-Breuer reflex,
• airway reflexes,
• reflexes of baroreceptors and chemoreceptors of the aorta and carotid artery,
• stimulation of neurons through chemoreceptors of the medulla oblongata,
• stimulation of respiratory muscle receptors.

In each case, one mechanism or several may be involved. Thanks to these reflexes, the body can respond by increasing respiratory movements to:

• change in the volume of pulmonary alveoli,
• the presence of irritating particles and mucus in the bronchi and alveoli,
• change in blood pressure,
• increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood,
• excessive stretching of the respiratory muscles.

Thanks to signals going to the respiratory center of the brain, it orders the diaphragm to make breathing movements more often and with greater energy. The organs can receive more O2, and the balance in the body can be restored. However, this does not always happen. If compensatory mechanisms are exhausted, then constant dyspnea develops.

If accompanied by a cough

If dyspnea is accompanied by a cough, the cause may be various pathologies. Often this phenomenon is evidence of lung diseases:

• pneumonia,
• Chronical bronchitis,
• bronchial asthma.

Dry cough and dyspnea can also be observed with acute respiratory infections, influenza, whooping cough, and measles.

Other manifestations of upper and lower respiratory tract infections:

• burning sensation in the chest area,
• general malaise,
• chills and high temperature,
• muscle pain.

Sudden dyspnea with a dry cough in a child is a reason to urgently consult a doctor.

If the patient does not cough constantly, but only in fits and starts, then the following pathologies may be the cause:

• tracheitis,
• bronchitis,
• pleurisy,
• pneumonia,
• the presence of foreign bodies in the trachea and bronchi.

However, with shortness of breath accompanied by cough, its cause may not be pulmonary, but cardiac pathology. This type of respiratory disorder is especially often caused by heart valve defects and severe CHF.

Chest pain

If dyspnea is accompanied by chest pain, this is extremely dangerous symptom. In most cases, pain can be accompanied by pathologies such as heart disease, ischemia, and myocardial infarction.

Usually characterized by sharp pain radiating to the shoulder blade in the left side of the chest, weakness, and a feeling of suffocation. You may feel dizzy. The patient experiences fear, the body becomes covered in sweat. In such a situation, you must immediately call a doctor.

IHD may also be accompanied by chest pain and dyspnea. Most often they are associated with physical activity rather than appearing on an ongoing basis. However, sometimes the patient may feel short of breath or feel pain even when not engaging in any physical activity. Thus, the manifestations of pathology become permanent. Unlike myocardial infarction, respiratory failure and pain in ischemic heart disease are usually relieved by taking vasodilators (nitroglycerin and similar drugs).

A type of dyspnea may occur, accompanied by neurogenic pain. Such pain is often observed with osteochondrosis. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help here.

Also, chest pain combined with dyspnea can occur with pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism. Pain in pulmonary pathologies such as bronchitis and pneumonia usually accompanies breathing movements.

What to do if there is a lack of oxygen

First of all, in such a situation you should not panic. It is necessary to assess the situation and make an assumption about the cause of this phenomenon. If it is caused by being in a stuffy room, poisoning with toxic combustion products (for example, in a fire), then you need to go out into fresh air. Or, if the attack happened to someone else, then you should help the victim move to fresh air. If tight outerwear interferes with breathing, then it is necessary to unbutton or remove it, remove the tie from the neck, so that the chest does not feel constrained.

If it is known that dyspnea is caused by some pathology, for example, allergies, asthma or exacerbation of coronary artery disease, then the necessary medications should be taken. For bronchial asthma, this can be aerosols with bronchodilators, for coronary artery disease - nitroglycerin. In case of anaphylactic shock or angioedema, taking antihistamines or corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs may help. Best to use intravenous administration medications, since swallowing movements may be difficult due to swelling of the larynx.

Lack of oxygen can also be caused by asphyxia as a result of a foreign object entering the respiratory tract. This is extremely dangerous condition. If it happened to someone else, then you should try to remove the foreign object using the Heimlich method. If the object cannot be removed, you must immediately call an ambulance.

If a patient is admitted to the hospital with symptoms of suffocation, he can be assisted through artificial oxygenation. Oxygen masks are usually used for this purpose. In severe cases, if the patient cannot breathe on his own, a ventilator is used.

Dyspnea in children

In young children, the respiratory rate is always higher than in adults. Thus, in newborn children, the respiratory rate can be more than 50 times per second. This should not alarm parents, but only as long as the chest does not contract more frequently than it should, based on the child’s age. If the breathing rhythm is below normal, this is also a cause for concern, since various pathologies can manifest themselves in this way. The respiratory rate in children should be calculated at the moment when the child is sleeping. To do this, you can put your hand on his chest.

Normal respiratory rate for children of different ages

The cause of breathing problems in children can be pulmonary pathologies, pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, allergies, bronchial asthma, heart defects, and anemia. Many infections in children are accompanied by stenosis of the larynx and lower respiratory tract.

An acute attack of suffocation in children can be caused by foreign objects or pieces of food getting into the respiratory tract. Therefore, this symptom is a reason to consult a doctor.

Respiratory distress syndrome in newborns

In newborns, dyspnea can often occur as a result of RDS. This pathology pulmonary in nature is characterized by a severe course. The syndrome is more common in premature babies.

Frequency of occurrence of RDS depending on the stage of pregnancy

In addition to prematurity, risk factors include fetal hypoxia, gestational diabetes mellitus, blood loss during childbirth, and maternal infections.

The syndrome is caused by a decrease in the amount of pulmonary surfactant in the alveoli. Surfactant is a substance that begins to be produced in the lungs of the fetus, starting from 20-24 weeks. Surfactant ensures expansion and stabilization of the alveoli. If the amount of surfactant is not enough, then the alveoli do not expand.

As a result, the function of pulmonary gas exchange is disrupted, hypoxia and acidosis occur, bleeding increases, and arterial pressure. Swelling of the alveoli, pulmonary hypertension is observed, and the healing of the opening in the interatrial septum and ductus arteriosus slows down.

Characteristic pallor or bluishness of the skin and limited mobility of the chest may also be observed.

The syndrome is life-threatening for newborns. The mortality rate with proper treatment is 10%.

Dyspnea in children with congenital heart defects

If children have trouble breathing, parents should check for heart defects. After all, dyspnea can manifest itself as a compensatory mechanism for various congenital heart defects. Usually it bothers the baby constantly. The most common defects:

• open oval window,
• open interventricular septum,
• open botal duct,
• tetralogy of Fallot.

These heart defects are characterized by mixing of arterial and venous blood. This situation leads to oxygen starvation of organs and can lead to death.

Treatment of congenital heart defects is in most cases surgical.

Preventing shortness of breath

This phenomenon can be caused by many pathologies - cardiac, pulmonary and nervous. Therefore, it is impossible to develop such a universal recipe that could eliminate all possible reasons breathing problems. However, in some cases, the cause of dyspnea is the unfavorable conditions in which people live and work. Dusty and unventilated rooms negatively affect the condition of people suffering from cardiac and pulmonary pathologies, primarily bronchial asthma.

In order to avoid such a situation, you must:

• comply with environmental standards of the premises,
• regularly ventilate the premises,
• regularly carry out wet cleaning of premises.

Smoking in residential and work areas should be prohibited. If the air is extremely polluted, air purifiers can be installed to clean it. Carbon dioxide content is monitored using special sensors.

If we talk about individual prevention, we should refuse bad habits(tobacco smoking), which are often the cause of various systemic pathologies. It is necessary to lead healthy image life, strengthen the nervous and cardiovascular system, take walks more often. Such types of physical activity as running, cycling, skiing, swimming are very good for strengthening the lungs and heart muscles. It is important for parents to strengthen their child’s immunity from the very beginning. early age. This helps reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections, pneumonia and bronchial asthma, which are the main factors causing breathing problems in childhood.

The feeling of not having enough air is probably familiar to everyone. It may appear after a quick run, climbing stairs to a high floor, or with strong excitement, but a healthy body quickly copes with such shortness of breath, bringing breathing back to normal.

If short-term shortness of breath after exercise does not cause serious concern, quickly disappearing during rest, then prolonged or sudden sudden difficulty breathing can signal a serious pathology, often requiring immediate treatment. Acute lack of air when the airways are blocked by a foreign body, pulmonary edema, or an asthmatic attack can cost life, so any respiratory disorder requires clarification of its cause and timely treatment.

Not only the respiratory system is involved in the process of breathing and providing tissues with oxygen, although its role, of course, is paramount. It is impossible to imagine breathing without the proper functioning of the muscular frame of the chest and diaphragm, the heart and blood vessels, and the brain. Breathing is influenced by blood composition, hormonal status, activity of the nerve centers of the brain and many external reasons - sports training, rich food, emotions.

The body successfully adapts to fluctuations in the concentration of gases in the blood and tissues, increasing the frequency of respiratory movements if necessary. When there is a lack of oxygen or an increased need for it, breathing becomes more frequent. Acidosis, which accompanies a number of infectious diseases, fever, and tumors, provokes increased breathing to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood and normalize its composition. These mechanisms turn on themselves, without our will or effort, but in some cases they become pathological.

Any respiratory disorder, even if its cause seems obvious and harmless, requires examination and a differentiated approach to treatment, therefore, if you feel that there is not enough air, it is better to immediately go to a doctor - a general practitioner, cardiologist, neurologist, or psychotherapist.

Causes and types of breathing problems

When a person has difficulty breathing and lacks air, they speak of shortness of breath. This symptom is considered an adaptive act in response to an existing pathology or reflects the natural physiological process of adaptation to changing external conditions. In some cases, it becomes difficult to breathe, but the unpleasant feeling of lack of air does not arise, since hypoxia is eliminated by an increased frequency of respiratory movements - in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, working in breathing apparatus, or a sharp rise to altitude.

Dyspnea can be inspiratory or expiratory. In the first case, there is not enough air when inhaling, in the second - when exhaling, but a mixed type is also possible, when it is difficult to both inhale and exhale.

Shortness of breath does not always accompany illness; it can be physiological, and this is a completely natural condition. The causes of physiological shortness of breath are:

• Physical exercise;
• Excitement, strong emotional experiences;
• Being in a stuffy, poorly ventilated room, in the highlands.

Physiological increased breathing occurs reflexively and goes away after a short time. People in poor physical shape who have a sedentary “office” job suffer from shortness of breath in response to physical effort more often than those who regularly visit the gym, pool, or simply take daily walks. As general physical development improves, shortness of breath occurs less frequently.

Pathological shortness of breath can develop acutely or be a constant concern, even at rest, significantly worsening with the slightest physical effort. A person suffocates when the airways are quickly closed by a foreign body, swelling of the laryngeal tissues, lungs and other serious conditions. When breathing in this case, the body does not receive the required even minimum amount of oxygen, and other severe disturbances are added to shortness of breath.

Basic pathological causes that make it difficult to breathe are:

• Diseases of the respiratory system - pulmonary shortness of breath;
• Pathology of the heart and blood vessels - cardiac shortness of breath;
• Disorders of the nervous regulation of the act of breathing - central type shortness of breath;
• Violation of the blood gas composition - hematogenous shortness of breath.

Heart reasons

Heart disease is one of the most common reasons why it becomes difficult to breathe. The patient complains that he does not have enough air and there is pressure in the chest, notes the appearance of swelling in the legs, cyanosis of the skin, fatigue, etc. Typically, patients whose breathing is impaired due to changes in the heart are already examined and even take appropriate medications, but shortness of breath can not only persist, but in some cases it gets worse.

With heart pathology, there is not enough air when inhaling, that is, inspiratory shortness of breath. It accompanies heart failure, can persist even at rest in its severe stages, and is aggravated at night when the patient is lying down.

The most common causes of cardiac dyspnea:

1. Cardiac ischemia;
2. Arrhythmias;
3. Cardiomyopathy and myocardial dystrophy;
4. Defects - congenital ones lead to shortness of breath in childhood and even the neonatal period;
5. Inflammatory processes in the myocardium, pericarditis;
6. Heart failure.

The occurrence of breathing difficulties in cardiac pathology is most often associated with the progression of heart failure, in which either there is no adequate cardiac output and the tissues suffer from hypoxia, or congestion occurs in the lungs due to failure of the left ventricular myocardium (cardiac asthma).

In addition to shortness of breath, often combined with a dry, painful cough, people with cardiac pathology experience other characteristic complaints that make diagnosis somewhat easier - pain in the heart area, “evening” swelling, cyanosis of the skin, irregular heartbeat. It becomes more difficult to breathe in a lying position, so most patients even sleep half-sitting, thus reducing the flow of venous blood from the legs to the heart and the manifestations of shortness of breath.

symptoms of heart failure

During an attack of cardiac asthma, which can quickly turn into alveolar pulmonary edema, the patient literally suffocates - the respiratory rate exceeds 20 per minute, the face turns blue, the neck veins swell, and the sputum becomes foamy. Pulmonary edema requires emergency care.

Treatment of cardiac dyspnea depends on the underlying cause that caused it. An adult patient with heart failure is prescribed diuretics (furosemide, veroshpiron, diacarb), ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril, etc.), beta blockers and antiarrhythmics, cardiac glycosides, oxygen therapy.

Diuretics (diacarb) are indicated for children, and drugs of other groups are strictly dosed due to possible side effects and contraindications in childhood. Congenital defects in which a child begins to choke from the very first months of life may require urgent surgical correction and even heart transplantation.

Pulmonary causes

Pathology of the lungs is the second reason leading to difficulty breathing, and both difficulty in inhaling and exhaling is possible. Pulmonary pathology with respiratory failure is:

• Chronic obstructive diseases - asthma, bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary emphysema;
• Pneumo- and hydrothorax;
• Tumors;
• Foreign bodies of the respiratory tract;
• Thromboembolism in the branches of the pulmonary arteries.

Chronic inflammatory and sclerotic changes in the pulmonary parenchyma greatly contribute to respiratory failure. They are aggravated by smoking, poor environmental conditions, and recurrent infections of the respiratory system. Shortness of breath is initially disturbing during physical exertion, gradually becoming permanent as the disease progresses to a more severe and irreversible stage of its course.

With lung pathology, the gas composition of the blood is disrupted, and a lack of oxygen occurs, which, first of all, is lacking in the head and brain. Severe hypoxia provokes metabolic disorders in the nervous tissue and the development of encephalopathy.

Patients with bronchial asthma are well aware of how breathing is disrupted during an attack: it becomes very difficult to exhale, discomfort and even pain in the chest appears, arrhythmia is possible, sputum is difficult to separate when coughing and is extremely scarce, the neck veins swell. Patients with such shortness of breath sit with their hands on their knees - this position reduces venous return and the load on the heart, alleviating the condition. Most often, it is difficult for such patients to breathe and lack air at night or in the early morning hours.

In a severe asthmatic attack, the patient suffocates, the skin becomes bluish, panic and some disorientation are possible, and status asthmaticus may be accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness.

In case of breathing problems due to chronic pulmonary pathology, the patient’s appearance changes: the chest becomes barrel-shaped, the spaces between the ribs increase, the neck veins are large and dilated, as well as the peripheral veins of the extremities. The expansion of the right half of the heart against the background of sclerotic processes in the lungs leads to its failure, and shortness of breath becomes mixed and more severe, that is, not only the lungs cannot cope with breathing, but the heart cannot provide adequate blood flow, filling the venous part with blood great circle blood circulation

There is also a lack of air in the case of pneumonia, pneumothorax, hemothorax. With inflammation of the pulmonary parenchyma, it becomes not only difficult to breathe, the temperature also rises, there are obvious signs of intoxication on the face, and the cough is accompanied by sputum production.

An extremely serious cause of sudden respiratory failure is considered to be the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. This could be a piece of food or a small part of a toy that the baby accidentally inhales while playing. A victim with a foreign body begins to choke, turns blue, quickly loses consciousness, and cardiac arrest is possible if help does not arrive in time.

Thromboembolism of the pulmonary vessels can also lead to sudden and rapidly increasing shortness of breath and cough. It occurs more often in people suffering from pathology of the blood vessels of the legs, heart, and destructive processes in the pancreas. With thromboembolism, the condition can be extremely severe with increasing asphyxia, bluish skin, rapid cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

In some cases, severe shortness of breath is caused by allergies and Quincke's edema, which are also accompanied by stenosis of the lumen of the larynx. The cause may be a food allergen, a wasp sting, inhalation of plant pollen, or a drug. In these cases, both the child and the adult require emergency medical care to relieve the allergic reaction, and in case of asphyxia, tracheostomy and artificial ventilation may be required.

Treatment of pulmonary dyspnea should be differentiated. If the cause is a foreign body, then it must be removed as quickly as possible; in case of allergic edema, a child or an adult should be given antihistamines, glucocorticoid hormones, adrenaline. In case of asphyxia, a tracheo- or conicotomy is performed.

For bronchial asthma, treatment is multi-stage, including beta-adrenergic agonists (salbutamol) in sprays, anticholinergics (ipratropium bromide), methylxanthines (aminophylline), glucocorticosteroids (triamcinolone, prednisolone).

Acute and chronic inflammatory processes require antibacterial and detoxification therapy, and compression of the lungs with pneumo- or hydrothorax, obstruction of the airways by a tumor is an indication for surgery (puncture of the pleural cavity, thoracotomy, removal of part of the lung, etc.).

Cerebral causes

In some cases, breathing difficulties are associated with damage to the brain, because the most important nerve centers that regulate the activity of the lungs, blood vessels, and heart are located there. Shortness of breath of this type is characteristic of structural damage to brain tissue - trauma, neoplasm, stroke, edema, encephalitis, etc.

Respiratory function disorders in brain pathology are very diverse: it is possible that breathing may either decrease or become more frequent, and the appearance of different types pathological breathing. Many patients with severe brain pathology are on artificial ventilation because they simply cannot breathe on their own.

The toxic effect of microbial waste products and fever leads to an increase in hypoxia and acidification of the internal environment of the body, which causes shortness of breath - the patient breathes frequently and noisily. In this way, the body strives to quickly get rid of excess carbon dioxide and provide tissues with oxygen.

A relatively harmless cause of cerebral dyspnea can be considered functional disorders in brain and peripheral activity nervous system - autonomic dysfunction, neurosis, hysteria. In these cases, shortness of breath is of a “nervous” nature, and in some cases this is noticeable to the naked eye, even to a non-specialist.

With vegetative dystonia, neurotic disorders and banal hysteria, the patient seems to be short of air, he makes frequent breathing movements, and may scream, cry and behave extremely demonstratively. During a crisis, a person may even complain that he is suffocating, but there are no physical signs of asphyxia - he does not turn blue, and the internal organs continue to work correctly.

Breathing disorders due to neuroses and other mental and emotional disorders can be safely relieved with sedatives, but doctors often encounter patients in whom such nervous shortness of breath becomes permanent; the patient concentrates on this symptom, often sighs and breathes rapidly when under stress or an emotional outburst.

Cerebral dyspnea is treated by resuscitators, therapists, and psychiatrists. In case of severe brain damage with the inability to breathe independently, the patient is given artificial ventilation. In the case of a tumor, it must be removed, and neuroses and hysterical forms of difficulty breathing must be treated with sedatives, tranquilizers and antipsychotics in severe cases.

Hematogenous causes

Hematogenous dyspnea occurs when the chemical composition of the blood is disrupted, when the concentration of carbon dioxide in it increases and acidosis develops due to the circulation of acidic metabolic products. This breathing disorder manifests itself in anemia of the of different origins, malignant tumors, heavy renal failure, diabetic coma, severe intoxication.

With hematogenous dyspnea, the patient complains that he often does not have enough air, but the process of inhalation and exhalation itself is not disturbed, the lungs and heart do not have obvious organic changes. A detailed examination shows that the cause of rapid breathing, in which there is a feeling that there is not enough air, are shifts in the electrolyte and gas composition of the blood.

Treatment of anemia involves prescribing iron supplements, vitamins, rational nutrition, blood transfusion depending on the cause. For renal liver failure detoxification therapy, hemodialysis, and infusion therapy are carried out.

Other causes of difficulty breathing

Many people are familiar with the feeling of being unable to breathe for no apparent reason without a sharp pain in the chest or back. Most people immediately get scared, thinking about a heart attack and grabbing validol, but the reason may be different - osteochondrosis, hernia intervertebral disc, intercostal neuralgia.

With intercostal neuralgia, the patient feels severe pain in half of the chest, worsening with movement and inhalation; particularly impressionable patients may panic, breathe quickly and shallowly. With osteochondrosis, it is difficult to breathe, and constant pain in the spine can provoke chronic shortness of breath, which can be difficult to distinguish from difficulty breathing due to pulmonary or cardiac pathology.

Treatment of difficulty breathing in diseases of the musculoskeletal system includes physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, drug support in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics.

Many expectant mothers complain that as their pregnancy progresses, it becomes more difficult for them to breathe. This sign may be quite normal, because the growing uterus and fetus raise the diaphragm and reduce the expansion of the lungs, hormonal changes and the formation of the placenta contribute to an increase in the number of respiratory movements to provide the tissues of both organisms with oxygen.

However, during pregnancy, breathing should be carefully assessed so as not to miss a serious pathology behind its seemingly natural increase, which could be anemia, thromboembolic syndrome, progression of heart failure due to a defect in the woman, etc.

One of the most dangerous reasons why a woman may begin to choke during pregnancy is pulmonary embolism. This condition is life-threatening and is accompanied by a sharp increase in breathing, which becomes noisy and ineffective. Asphyxia and death without emergency assistance are possible.

Thus, having considered only the most common causes of difficulty breathing, it becomes clear that this symptom can indicate dysfunction of almost all organs or systems of the body, and in some cases it can be difficult to identify the main pathogenic factor. Patients who have difficulty breathing require a thorough examination, and if the patient is suffocating, emergency qualified assistance is needed.

Any case of shortness of breath requires a trip to the doctor to find out its cause; self-medication in this case is unacceptable and can lead to very serious consequences. This is especially true for breathing problems in children, pregnant women and sudden attacks shortness of breath in people of any age.

Difficulty breathing causes and symptoms | How to restore your breathing

This phenomenon can indicate a number of human diseases. Difficulty breathing may be harsh or noisy. Or, on the contrary, very quiet. The depth of breathing may also change. It can be deep and strong or superficial and weak. This condition can last for 2-3 hours or more and is very frightening if you are not prepared in advance. How to restore breathing and identify the cause of the problem, read further in the article.

Symptoms of developing difficulty breathing

Under normal conditions, a person breathes calmly and evenly. Respiratory rate changes with age. Normally it is breaths per minute for children younger age and breaths per minute for adults. The breathing rate can be counted by the rise and fall of the chest. However, for patients with chronic diseases of the chest organs, who have suffered from them for many years, breathing that is too frequent for others can be considered the norm.

The patient may have persistent cough: infrequent or very severe, debilitating. For example, people with asthma may have a persistent cough. Such phenomena can be considered normal for these people.

Chest pain associated with difficulty breathing should be reported to your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Chest pain can occur for reasons that need to be determined. Pain may occur as a result of infection, usually with complaints of pain on the sides of the chest. When describing pain, patients often say that it intensifies when inhaling.

Since you communicate with the patient more than others, you are able to be the first to recognize changes in the nature of breathing or difficulty in breathing. Any change in breathing patterns may indicate the development of an infection or a deterioration in the patient's condition. Each patient describes his sensations in his own way, and his description should never be ignored.

Causes of difficulty breathing

Difficulty breathing can be caused directly by illness, such as a chest infection, or by some indirect cause, such as:

congenital heart disease

cardiac ischemia

left ventricular failure

obstruction of the airways as a cause of difficulty breathing

rheumatic heart disease

inactivity after an accident.

Breathing becomes difficult when the lungs cannot expand enough. Common reason difficulty breathing, for example, if a person remains in the same position for a long time.

How to restore breathing during an infectious disease?

Various reasons can lead to respiratory failure, ranging from minor physical exertion to genetic pathologies. What to do if breathing problems threaten a person’s life? In such cases, it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim to restore breathing. There is a lot you can do to help a patient avoid developing an infection in the organs. chest cavity or worsening of the disease.

Encourage the patient to move around the room every 2-3 hours, if possible. If this is not possible, the patient should be helped and encouraged to sit for a while in bed, preferably in a high-backed chair.

If the patient cannot get out of bed, he needs to do breathing exercises approximately every hour - breathe deeply.

Whether the patient is in bed or elsewhere, it is important that he sits in the correct position. Improving circulation increases the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body.

To eliminate the causes of difficulty breathing, you should put your body in a position where your shoulders are pulled back and your spine is supported. In this position, the lungs can expand fully, even if the patient is lying on his side. By combining thick and soft pillows, you can accommodate a weak or sick person in a bed or chair in correct posture. You should always place pillows behind your back so that your shoulders are pulled back. Then the lungs can expand to their maximum volume.

If the patient complains of chest pain, a heating pad with hot water, applied to the place where it hurts (the heating pad must be wrapped so that it does not burn). It is necessary to stock up on napkins or special bags for sputum when coughing.

If the patient smokes, he needs deep breathing even more, since the vital capacity of the lungs can be reduced as a result of inhaling smoke.

Several hard and soft pillows will help place the patient in a sitting or semi-sitting position.

Eliminate difficulty breathing with exercises

The lungs will work better if you invite the patient to perform a series of simple exercises. This is necessary because to ensure a good supply of oxygen to all parts of the body, the heart and lungs must work harder.

A physical therapist can teach you how to restore your breathing, but there are also simple breathing exercises that can be beneficial.

The patient should sit or lie supported by pillows with his shoulders pulled back.

Place your palms on your chest at the lower edge of your rib cage with your fingertips touching each other. (The patient can do this himself.)

Ask the patient to breathe slowly and deeply through the nose so that the chest rises and falls high. This will help increase lung filling.

If the exercise is performed correctly, you will see or feel your fingers moving away from each other.

Ask the patient to breathe slowly through the mouth.

As you exhale, your fingertips should move closer to each other as your chest lowers.

Repeat this exercise if you have difficulty breathing six times every hour throughout the day. It is important to remember that the deep breathing exercise must be performed with caution. If you overdo it, it can cause dizziness. Do not forget also that after exercises rest is necessary, otherwise the patient will become overtired.

How to restore breathing to a patient with allergic edema?

When found acute edema and difficulty breathing, you need to urgently call an ambulance. While the ambulance is on its way, provide first aid to the patient:

Remove the patient from the allergen, if possible (medicine, food or animal).

To restore the patient's breathing, remove the emotional burden from the patient.

It is necessary to provide the victim with access to fresh air. If there are items of clothing that restrict the inhalation of air into the lungs, remove them (tie, scarf, shirt or belt).

To restore breathing, place a cold compress on the allergy-affected area to relieve swelling and itching.

Use vasoconstrictor nasal drops (for example, Naphthyzin).

Give the patient antihistamines (Diphenhydramine or Suprastin).

How to eliminate breathing problems under stress?

Nervous disorders can lead to vasospasm, which in turn leads to less oxygen saturation of internal organs and tissues. Strong tension in the chest muscles provokes an attack of suffocation. How to cope with suffocation on your own? How to restore breathing to a patient? To do this, follow the following rules:

To restore breathing, inhale lightly and exhale for a long time - this is how the diaphragm contracts and stimulates the functioning of the internal organs.

Don't hold back your emotions to regain your breath.

Learn to breathe with your belly. To do this, inhale, sticking your stomach out and exhale, relaxing your stomach.

Inhale and exhale slowly into a paper bag or clasped palms.

How to restore breathing to a patient during an asthma attack?

First aid to a patient during an attack should be aimed at the following actions:

Freeing the patient from tight clothing.

To restore breathing to the patient, it is necessary to provide access to fresh air.

The patient's hands and feet should be immersed in hot water or mustard plasters placed on them.

Rub the area of ​​the heart with a handkerchief soaked in cold water, salt and vinegar (if the patient does not suffer from lung diseases).

Rub your temples with cologne.

To restore the patient's breathing, you can also apply hot wraps to the chest area.

They also save you from an asthma attack. folk remedies. Boil 1 teaspoon of licorice root in a cup of water for 2 minutes. Before drinking tea, add half a spoon of pure ghee to it. You should take a sip of the decoction every 5-10 minutes.

A remedy made from honey, onion and black pepper also helps: mix a teaspoon of honey with a quarter glass of onion juice, an eighth of a teaspoon of black pepper and take the medicine internally.

To normalize your breathing, you can use this recipe: mix a teaspoon of mustard oil with a teaspoon of unrefined sugar. Take the mixture 1-2 times a day.

How to eliminate breathing problems when choking?

Mostly, attacks of difficulty breathing occur at night. At this point, the person's breathing becomes noisy, with accompanying whistling and wheezing.

If whistling and wheezing appear during a short inhalation and a long exhalation, this indicates the presence of respiratory tract diseases and bronchospasms. Also, with heart failure, there is difficulty in inhaling and exhaling. To restore the patient’s breathing, the following points should be followed:

Sit the patient so that there is free access to fresh air.

At this moment, apply heating pads to the legs and arms or lower the patient's legs into a basin of hot water up to the ankles.

Place mustard plasters on the patient's chest or sides of the body, or on the back below the shoulder blades.

Shortness of breath and lack of air causes

The breathing of a healthy person is calm and uniform, its frequency can be determined by the rise of the chest. With the development of pathological processes associated with lack of air and shortness of breath, the frequency of breathing may change, it becomes intermittent and superficial, noises appear or, on the contrary, breaths become deep and very quiet.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing

The breathing rate of a healthy person changes with age: for example, small children take one breath, and for adults the norm is one breath.

• persistent cough;
• chest pain;
• feeling of tightness in the chest;
• inability to fully exhale/inhale;
• sensation of a lump in the throat/foreign object;
• attacks of suffocation.

These are the main symptoms based on the individual feelings of the person seeking help from a specialist.

At the early stage of any disease, difficulty breathing appears after physical exertion, but as the pathology progresses, shortness of breath and lack of oxygen occur even at rest.

Difficulty breathing, lack of air, can have various causes, but changes of any nature are a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Clinical manifestations of breathing problems

Often pathologies associated with breathing manifest themselves:

• pronounced wheezing and whistling;
• sore throat and cough;
• frequent yawning and widening of the nostrils;
• swallowing/speech disorders;
• hoarseness of voice;
• pale skin;
• blue lips and nails;
• the occurrence of dizziness/fainting;
• deterioration of concentration;
• the appearance of apathy/severe weakness/lethargy.

The patient may complain of pain or unpleasant tingling in the sternum, a feeling of heaviness and squeezing. Also, many note that shortness of breath appears when falling asleep, i.e. the body lies horizontally. A person has to look for a comfortable lying position in order to inhale normally.

Causes of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

All pathological processes manifested by symptoms associated with respiratory failure can be divided into several groups.

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• bronchial asthma;
• pneumonia;
• bronchiectasis.

• heartbeat disturbances, development of arrhythmia and blockades;
• myocardial infarction;
• congenital heart defects;
• angina attack.

• entry of a foreign object into the airways (more often found in young children);
• tumor formation in the bronchi or oropharynx;
• chest injury;
• excess weight;
• allergic reactions;
• panic attacks;
• smoking;
• physical inactivity.

Breathing may become difficult when the lungs do not expand enough. Often the causes of such shortness of breath are not dangerous: for example, if breathing is disrupted during sleep, then you should simply change your body position.

Pathological breathing disorder in adults

An adult who experiences constant shortness of breath may look inhibited from the outside: he does not understand the meaning of what is said well, has difficulty answering simple questions, and is poorly oriented in space. This condition is explained by the low supply of oxygen to the brain. Insufficient air supply to the muscles and tissues makes it difficult for the patient to keep his head straight. A person may complain of darkening of the eyes and blurring of objects.

It is important to know! Shortness of breath in a healthy person caused by physical exertion should be distinguished from signs of pathologies of the cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous and respiratory systems.

Shortness of breath, as a symptom of the disease, appears regularly, regardless of physical activity and even with complete rest.

Types of shortness of breath

There are three types of shortness of breath:

The first type of shortness of breath is characterized by difficulty in inhaling and exhaling. Inspiratory dyspnea refers to problems with inhalation, and expiratory dyspnea refers to problems with exhalation.

• Shortness of breath in older people, the cause of which is the natural aging process of the body. With age, the tone of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries deteriorates, and blood circulation in the same volume becomes impossible. The degree of difficulty breathing depends on the severity of thinning and wear of the vascular walls. Often shortness of breath in older people is observed when walking or climbing stairs.
• Shortness of breath associated with hypertension and heart failure. Such conditions cause any form of shortness of breath, accompanied by irregular heartbeat, attacks of fatigue and swelling of the limbs.
• Shortness of breath as a symptom of tachycardia and myocardial infarction. The inability to inhale or exhale air is a natural reaction of the body, a kind of attempt to compensate for the lack of air.
• Difficulties with breathing during pregnancy in most cases are observed in the third trimester, when the uterus rapidly enlarges and begins to put pressure on the diaphragm.
• Heavy breathing due to psychogenic diseases and VSD. A person may be tormented by constant yawning, coughing, breathing may be shallow or deep, frequent or, on the contrary, slow down. Treatment involves taking sedatives and working with a psychologist (psychotherapist).

Treatment of difficulty breathing

Difficulty breathing requires exclusively specialized traditional treatment. Usage folk recipes without prior consultation with a doctor, it can only aggravate a person’s already serious condition.

In cases where difficulty breathing develops suddenly and poses a threat to life, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the brigade arrives, it is important:

• ensure maximum oxygen supply: unbutton clothes, open windows, empty airways (for example, from vomit);
• lay the patient horizontally and raise his legs: this will ensure better blood flow to the brain and heart;
• If breathing stops, artificial ventilation should be performed (mouth-to-mouth method).

If the cause of breathing problems is stress, then psychological counseling and meditation can help solve the problem.

When shortness of breath and lack of air occurs, the causes of which are a serious illness, after diagnostic measures Doctors select and prescribe special medications and procedures.

Preventing breathing problems

To get rid of shortness of breath, you should:

• normalize weight;
• to live an active lifestyle;
• give up tobacco;
• avoid nervous tension and stress;
• Avoid getting foreign objects into the airways.

But the most important preventive measure is the treatment of the pathology that is the root cause of the problem, especially when these are disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.

Sudden shortness of breath should not be ignored, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms (wheezing, pain in the head or chest, fever).

This condition indicates serious disruptions in the body, which sometimes lead to death.

Diagnostic measures

To make an accurate diagnosis, the following measures are taken:

1. Conversation. The doctor must collect an anamnesis of the development of the disease: finds out whether there are accompanying symptoms, what the nature of the shortness of breath is, finds out whether the attack occurred for the first time or whether it is a systematic phenomenon. The doctor also conducts a conversation to determine whether chronic diseases and allergies.
2. Inspection. This involves examining the skin to identify possible allergic rashes or areas of cyanosis (blue discoloration). It is also necessary to examine the oropharynx and nasal cavity for the presence of foreign objects.
3. Laboratory research. A blood test to determine the oxygen content in it allows you to exclude/confirm hypoxia.
4. Instrumental studies include:

• ECG to assess heart rhythm;
• Ultrasound of the heart for detailed visualization of all its parts, detection of defects and blood clots;
• chest x-ray and CT scan to detect pneumonia, tumors, bronchitis;
• bronchoscopy to detect foreign bodies, tumors in the bronchi.
• consultation with specialized specialists: allergist, ENT specialist, cardiologist, psychiatrist, etc.

  Breathing disorders and shortness of breath in a child

  In most cases, shortness of breath in a child occurs for the same reasons as in adults. Special cases are observed if mothers of newborns suffer from diabetes or heart disease. In such cases, babies are at risk of developing pulmonary edema - distress syndrome.

  The cause of difficulty breathing in newborns may be a congenital heart defect, and in infants and older children - false croup, laryngitis, respiratory diseases.

  Diseases that can cause serious breathing problems in children:

  It is difficult not to notice the occurrence of respiratory disorders. The oxygen deficiency is instantly noticeable: the person begins to breathe noisily. Many people have a hard time with such conditions: due to the fact that they want to breathe deeply, but this becomes impossible, a person may be seized by panic, further aggravating the pathological condition.

  To avoid irreversible consequences, you should know exactly the causes of breathing difficulties, be able to provide quick help to yourself and others, and strictly follow the instructions of your doctor.

  Thioctic acid did not help me, and nothing has helped me yet, but I was only poisoned by the medicines, now

  Just when I had a cold, I had a severe cough. The pharmacy advised for treatment

  I've heard of many of these remedies. But in my opinion, Bronchobos helps best with coughs. By the way I

  I got rid of papilloma on my palm in just one day with the help of Celandine, I just applied it to it

  I can’t tell you about children, I don’t have any. But I buy Ingavirin for myself. It's quite enough for me

  Why does difficulty breathing occur?

  Difficulty breathing is the difficult and sometimes painful process of inhaling or exhaling. With such a deviation, it is extremely important to find out whether it occurs at rest or only during physical activity. In addition, you need to observe your body and determine whether heavy breathing is accompanied by chest pain, cough, fever or swelling of the legs, and whether the person is forced to sit down and rest for any time to restore the normal sequence of inhalations and exhalations.

  What reasons can cause difficulty breathing?

  1. Allergic edema

  As a rule, such an acute allergy occurs in response to taking any medical supplies or products, as well as during the flowering of certain plants or after interaction with household chemicals. This disease occurs with the sudden development of widespread or limited swelling of the mucous membranes and fatty tissue. Difficulty breathing occurs only if a person's larynx becomes swollen.

  2. Bronchial asthma

  This disease is accompanied by spasms of the small bronchi and blockage of their viscous and thick secretions, which naturally creates heaviness during breathing. As a rule, exhalation occurs along with wheezing and whistling. The patient may also often suffer from a severe cough.

  3. Foreign body inhalation

  Difficulty breathing, sudden coughing and choking in a healthy person should suggest that a foreign object has entered the respiratory tract.

  4. Pneumonia

  This disease is characterized by heaviness in breathing, which occurs extremely unexpectedly along with a strong and painful cough, as well as chills, flaring of the nose and fever.

  5. High altitude hypoxia

  This deviation is due to a lack of oxygen at too high altitudes (more than 3000 meters above sea level). In this case, a person may experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema, cough, chest pain, vomiting and a feeling of lack of air.

  6. Hyperventilation

  This disease manifests itself in periods of respiratory arrest, as well as a feeling of lack of air, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, unpleasant sensations in the abdomen and muscles, weakness, dry mouth, headache, numbness, hazy vision, confusion and dizziness. This condition occurs with renal failure, diabetes, salicylate poisoning, etc.

  Due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, this disease causes severe shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

  In an obese person, fat is deposited on the walls of the chest, thereby restricting its movement. As a result, the patient often complains of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

  9. Pus in the pleural cavity

  This deviation is characterized not only by difficulty breathing, but also by fever, cough, chest pain, weakness, nausea, pallor, headache and exhaustion.

  10. Emphysema

  Due to the abnormal expansion of the air space in the lung tissue, a person can breathe frequently and ineffectively, while puffing out his cheeks and puffing even with not very great physical exertion.

Difficulty breathing is a violation of the frequency and correct rhythm of inhalation and exit, which is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Shortness of breath is a form of similar breathing, which is characterized by a high-pitched sound (whistle, noise) when inhaling. It can occur as a result of disruptions in the functioning of those links that are responsible for the implementation of this process: the cerebral cortex, chest muscles, cardiovascular system, diaphragm and respiratory center. In the absence of disturbances in the nervous regulation of breathing, shortness of breath is compensatory in nature, in which it replenishes the lack of oxygen and removes excess amounts of carbon dioxide.

Difficulty breathing has several main causes:

1. Blockage of the airways in the nose, mouth and throat area.
2. If the heart's function is impaired and it cannot pump enough blood. As a result, the brain, organs and muscles do not receive oxygen fully, which can lead to a feeling of suffocation.
3. Lung diseases cause heavy breathing and shortness of breath.
4. Very often, emotional overstrain leads to a similar state.

There are several types of shortness of breath, the classification of which is related to the causes of development and forms of manifestation:

1. Central type. this type occurs as a result of a disruption in the functioning of cortical regulation respiratory activity or primary lesions of the respiratory center. When neuroses are observed, this form is characterized by frequent In this situation, the task of the ambulance is to calm the patient, try to teach and then help him to adjust to breathing slowly and evenly, to switch the person’s attention to something else.
2. Dyspnea with thoradiaphragmatic disorders is difficulty breathing, which is caused by impaired mobility of the diaphragm or chest, as well as large accumulations of fluid in the pleura. In this case, there is a noticeable decrease in the depth of breathing, but an increase in its frequency. Treatment consists of eliminating the cause that caused this condition: puncture of the pleura in conditions of hydrothorax, as well as insertion (when flatulence develops).
3. Pulmonary dyspnea is usually associated with a decrease in the surface or low extensibility of the lung tissue, failures bronchial obstruction or disturbances in the diffusion of gases.

Very often, this type of difficulty breathing is associated with obstruction caused by bronchospasm, swelling or blockage (due to phlegm). The main signs of this condition are prolongation of inspiration, swelling of the neck veins during it (because the pressure in the chest cavity increases), as well as manifestations. Treatment is prescribed by taking bronchodilators. If there is difficulty in sputum discharge, it is recommended to take expectorants.

1. Cardiac dyspnea is difficulty breathing that develops as a result of insufficiency of the left side of the heart, which leads to a decrease in cardiac output, to the fact that blood in the lungs begins to stagnate, or causes both problems. Very often, this type of shortness of breath is also manifested by swelling and cold extremities. It can occur at night during sleep, but most often it occurs after intense physical activity. Treatment in this case is complex, which includes digitalis-based medications.
2. Hematogenous dyspnea often occurs with renal or liver failure, with acidosis.
3. At mixed type treatment should be prescribed only after careful clarification of all the reasons for the development of such a condition.

One of the main complaints most often voiced by patients is shortness of breath. This subjective feeling forces the patient to go to the clinic and call an ambulance medical care and may even be an indication for emergency hospitalization. So what is shortness of breath and what are the main reasons that cause it? You will find answers to these questions in this article. So…

What is shortness of breath

As mentioned above, shortness of breath (or dyspnea) is a subjective human sensation, an acute, subacute or chronic feeling of lack of air, manifested by tightness in the chest, clinically - an increase in the respiratory rate above 18 per minute and an increase in its depth.

A healthy person at rest does not pay attention to his breathing. With moderate physical activity, the frequency and depth of breathing change - the person is aware of this, but this condition does not cause him discomfort, and breathing parameters return to normal within a few minutes after stopping the exercise. If shortness of breath becomes more pronounced during moderate exertion, or appears when a person performs basic activities (tying shoelaces, walking around the house), or, even worse, does not go away at rest, we are talking about pathological shortness of breath, indicating a particular disease .

Classification of shortness of breath

If the patient has difficulty breathing, this is called inspiratory shortness of breath. It appears when the lumen of the trachea and large bronchi narrows (for example, in patients with bronchial asthma or as a result of compression of the bronchus from the outside - with pneumothorax, pleurisy, etc.).

If discomfort occurs during exhalation, such shortness of breath is called expiratory shortness of breath. It occurs due to narrowing of the lumen of the small bronchi and is a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema.

There are a number of reasons that cause mixed shortness of breath - with disturbances in both inhalation and exhalation. The main ones among them are lung diseases in late, advanced stages.

There are 5 degrees of severity of shortness of breath, determined based on the patient’s complaints - the MRC scale (Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale).

Causes of shortness of breath

The main causes of shortness of breath can be divided into 4 groups:

1. Respiratory failure caused by:
   • violation of bronchial obstruction;
   • diffuse diseases of the tissue (parenchyma) of the lungs;
   • pulmonary vascular diseases;
   • diseases of the respiratory muscles or chest.
2. Heart failure.
3. Hyperventilation syndrome (with neurocirculatory dystonia and neuroses).
4. Metabolic disorders.

Shortness of breath due to lung pathology

This symptom is observed in all diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Depending on the pathology, shortness of breath can occur acutely (pleurisy, pneumothorax) or bother the patient for many weeks, months and years ().

Shortness of breath in COPD is caused by a narrowing of the airways and the accumulation of viscous secretions in them. It is constant, expiratory in nature, and in the absence of adequate treatment becomes more and more pronounced. Often combined with a cough followed by sputum discharge.

In bronchial asthma, shortness of breath manifests itself in the form of sudden attacks of suffocation. It has an expiratory character - for light short Inhalation is followed by a noisy, labored exhalation. When you inhale special medications that dilate the bronchi, breathing quickly normalizes. Choking attacks usually occur after contact with allergens - when inhaling them or eating them. In especially severe cases, the attack is not stopped by bronchomimetics - the patient’s condition progressively worsens, he loses consciousness. This is an extremely life-threatening condition that requires emergency medical attention.

Accompanies shortness of breath and acute infectious diseases - bronchitis and. Its severity depends on the severity of the underlying disease and the extent of the process. In addition to shortness of breath, the patient is concerned about a number of other symptoms:

• increase in temperature from subfebrile to febrile numbers;
• weakness, lethargy, sweating and other symptoms of intoxication;
• nonproductive (dry) or productive (with sputum) cough;
• chest pain.

With timely treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia, their symptoms stop within a few days and recovery occurs. In severe cases of pneumonia, respiratory failure is accompanied by cardiac failure - shortness of breath increases significantly and some other characteristic symptoms appear.

Lung tumors in the early stages are asymptomatic. If a recently emerging tumor was not detected by chance (during preventive fluorography or as an accidental finding in the process of diagnosing non-pulmonary diseases), it gradually grows and, when it reaches a sufficiently large size, causes certain symptoms:

• at first mild, but gradually increasing constant shortness of breath;
• hacking cough with minimal sputum;
• hemoptysis;
• chest pain;
• weight loss, weakness, pallor of the patient.

Treatment for lung tumors may include surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, other modern treatment methods.

The greatest threat to the patient's life is caused by shortness of breath conditions such as pulmonary embolism, or PE, local airway obstruction and toxic pulmonary edema.

PE is a condition in which one or more branches of the pulmonary artery are blocked by blood clots, as a result of which part of the lungs is excluded from the act of breathing. Clinical manifestations of this pathology depend on the volume of lung damage. It is usually manifested by sudden shortness of breath, disturbing the patient during moderate or minor physical activity or even at rest, a feeling of suffocation, tightness and chest pain, similar to that with, often hemoptysis. The diagnosis is confirmed by corresponding changes in the ECG, chest x-ray, and angiopulmography.

Airway obstruction is also manifested by the symptom complex of suffocation. The shortness of breath is inspiratory in nature, breathing can be heard from a distance - noisy, stridorous. A frequent accompaniment of shortness of breath in this pathology is a painful cough, especially when changing body position. The diagnosis is made on the basis of spirometry, bronchoscopy, X-ray or tomographic examination.

Airway obstruction can result from:

• violation of the patency of the trachea or bronchi due to compression of this organ from the outside (aortic aneurysm, goiter);
• damage to the trachea or bronchi by a tumor (cancer, papillomas);
• entry (aspiration) of a foreign body;
• formation of cicatricial stenosis;
• chronic inflammation leading to destruction and fibrosis of the cartilaginous tissue of the trachea (in rheumatic diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus,).

Bronchodilator therapy for this pathology is ineffective. The main role in treatment belongs to adequate therapy of the underlying disease and mechanical restoration of airway patency.

It may occur against the background of an infectious disease accompanied by severe intoxication or due to exposure to toxic substances in the respiratory tract. At the first stage, this condition manifests itself only as gradually increasing shortness of breath and rapid breathing. After some time, shortness of breath gives way to painful suffocation, accompanied by bubbling breathing. The leading direction of treatment is detoxification.

Less commonly, the following lung diseases manifest themselves as shortness of breath:

• pneumothorax is an acute condition in which air penetrates the pleural cavity and lingers there, compressing the lung and preventing the act of breathing; occurs due to injury or infectious processes in the lungs; requires emergency surgery;
• – serious infection, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; requires long-term specific treatment;
• actinomycosis of the lungs - a disease caused by fungi;
• emphysema is a disease in which the alveoli become stretched and lose their ability to carry out normal gas exchange; develops as an independent form or accompanies other chronic respiratory diseases;
• silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases resulting from the deposition of dust particles in the lung tissue; recovery is impossible, the patient is prescribed supportive care symptomatic therapy;
• , defects of the thoracic vertebrae - with these conditions, the shape of the chest is disrupted, which makes breathing difficult and causes shortness of breath.

Shortness of breath due to pathology of the cardiovascular system

Persons suffering from one of the main complaints note shortness of breath. In the early stages of the disease, shortness of breath is perceived by patients as a feeling of lack of air during physical activity, but over time this feeling is caused by less and less exercise; in advanced stages it does not leave the patient even at rest. In addition, advanced stages of heart disease are characterized by paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - an attack of suffocation that develops at night, leading to the awakening of the patient. This condition is also known as. It is caused by stagnation of fluid in the lungs.

Dyspnea in neurotic disorders

Complaints of shortness of breath of varying degrees are made by ¾ of patients of neurologists and psychiatrists. A feeling of lack of air, the inability to breathe deeply, often accompanied by anxiety, fear of death from suffocation, a feeling of a “blockage”, an obstruction in the chest that prevents a full breath - the complaints of patients are very diverse. Typically, such patients are excitable people who react sharply to stress, often with hypochondriacal tendencies. Psychogenic breathing disorders often appear against a background of anxiety and fear, depressed mood, or after experiencing nervous overexcitation. Even attacks of false asthma are possible - suddenly developing attacks of psychogenic shortness of breath. Clinical feature psychogenic features of breathing is its noise design - frequent sighs, groans, groans.

Neurologists and psychiatrists treat shortness of breath in neurotic and neurosis-like disorders.

Shortness of breath with anemia

Anemia is a group of diseases characterized by changes in the composition of the blood, namely a decrease in the content of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Since the transport of oxygen from the lungs directly to the organs and tissues is carried out precisely with the help of hemoglobin, when its amount decreases, the body begins to experience oxygen starvation - hypoxia. Of course, he tries to compensate for this condition, roughly speaking, to pump more oxygen into the blood, as a result of which the frequency and depth of breaths increases, i.e. shortness of breath occurs. There are anemias different types and they arise due to various reasons:

• insufficient intake of iron from food (for vegetarians, for example);
• chronic bleeding (with peptic ulcer, uterine leiomyoma);
• after recent severe infectious or somatic diseases;
• for congenital metabolic disorders;
• as a symptom oncological diseases, in particular blood cancer.

In addition to shortness of breath with anemia, the patient complains of:

• severe weakness, loss of strength;
• decreased quality of sleep, decreased appetite;
• dizziness, headaches, decreased performance, impaired concentration and memory.

Persons suffering from anemia are distinguished by pale skin, and in some types of the disease - by a yellow tint, or jaundice.

Diagnosis is easy - just take a general blood test. If there are changes in it that indicate anemia, a series of examinations, both laboratory and instrumental, will be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and identify the causes of the disease. Treatment is prescribed by a hematologist.

Shortness of breath in diseases of the endocrine system

Persons suffering from diseases such as obesity and diabetes mellitus also often complain of shortness of breath.

With thyrotoxicosis, a condition characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormones, all metabolic processes in the body sharply increase - at the same time, it experiences an increased need for oxygen. In addition, an excess of hormones causes an increase in the number of heart contractions, as a result of which the heart loses the ability to fully pump blood to tissues and organs - they experience a lack of oxygen, which the body tries to compensate for, and shortness of breath occurs.

Excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body during obesity impede the functioning of the respiratory muscles, heart, and lungs, as a result of which tissues and organs do not receive enough blood and lack oxygen.

In diabetes mellitus, sooner or later the vascular system the body, as a result of which all organs are in a state of chronic oxygen starvation. In addition, over time, the kidneys are also affected - developing diabetic nephropathy, which in turn provokes anemia, as a result of which hypoxia intensifies even more.

Shortness of breath in pregnant women

During pregnancy, a woman's respiratory and cardiovascular systems experience increased stress. This load is due to the increased volume of circulating blood, compression from below the diaphragm by the enlarged uterus (as a result of which the chest organs become crowded and breathing movements and heart contractions are somewhat difficult), the need for oxygen not only of the mother, but also of the growing embryo. All these physiological changes lead to many women experiencing shortness of breath during pregnancy. The breathing rate does not exceed 22–24 per minute; it becomes more frequent during physical activity and stress. As pregnancy progresses, shortness of breath also progresses. In addition, expectant mothers often suffer from anemia, which worsens shortness of breath.

If the respiratory rate exceeds the above figures, shortness of breath does not go away or does not decrease significantly at rest, the pregnant woman should definitely consult a doctor - an obstetrician-gynecologist or therapist.

Shortness of breath in children

Respiratory rate in children of different ages different. Dyspnea should be suspected if:

• in a child 0–6 months, the number of respiratory movements (RR) is more than 60 per minute;
• in a child 6–12 months of age, the respiratory rate is over 50 per minute;
• in a child over 1 year of age, the respiratory rate is over 40 per minute;
• in a child over 5 years of age, the respiratory rate is over 25 per minute;
• in a child 10–14 years old, the respiratory rate is over 20 per minute.

During emotional arousal, during physical activity, crying, and feeding, the respiratory rate is always higher, but if the respiratory rate is significantly higher than normal and slowly recovers at rest, you should inform your pediatrician about this.

Most often, shortness of breath in children occurs under the following pathological conditions:

• neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (often reported in premature infants whose mothers suffer from diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, diseases of the genital area; it is promoted by intrauterine hypoxia and asphyxia; clinically manifested by shortness of breath with a respiratory rate over 60 per minute, a blue tint to the skin and its pallor, and chest rigidity is also noted; treatment must begin as early as possible - the most modern method is the introduction of pulmonary surfactant into the trachea of ​​a newborn in the first minutes of his life);
• acute stenosing laryngotracheitis, or false croup (a feature of the structure of the larynx in children is its small lumen, which, with inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane of this organ, can lead to disruption of the passage of air through it; usually false croup develops at night - swelling increases in the area of ​​the vocal cords, leading to severe inspiratory shortness of breath and suffocation; in this condition, it is necessary to provide the child with a flow of fresh air and immediately call an ambulance);
• congenital heart defects (due to intrauterine development disorders, the child develops pathological communications between the great vessels or cavities of the heart, leading to mixing of venous and arterial blood; as a result, the organs and tissues of the body receive blood that is not saturated with oxygen and experience hypoxia; depending on the severity dynamic observation and/or surgical treatment is indicated);
• viral and bacterial bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, allergies;
• anemia.

In conclusion, it should be noted that only a specialist can determine the true cause of shortness of breath, therefore, if this complaint occurs, you should not self-medicate - the most correct decision would be to consult a doctor.

Which doctor should I contact?

If the diagnosis is not yet known to the patient, it is best to consult a therapist (pediatrician for children). After the examination, the doctor will be able to establish a presumptive diagnosis and, if necessary, refer the patient to a specialized specialist. If shortness of breath is associated with lung pathology, you should consult a pulmonologist; if you have heart disease, consult a cardiologist. Anemia is treated by a hematologist, diseases of the endocrine glands by an endocrinologist, pathology of the nervous system by a neurologist, mental disorders accompanied by shortness of breath by a psychiatrist.