Symptom: Breathing difficulties

Introduction: Breathing difficulties

Breathing difficulty of any kind (or any kind of "shortness of breath") is a potentially life-threatening emergency. It can indicate numerous dangerous causes such as heart attack, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism. There are other less serious causes, but these highly dangerous conditions need to be considered. Refer to the causes of breathing difficulty or causes of chest pain. These symptoms need to be diagnosed immediately by a medical professional because they can represent a life-threatening emergency.

» Review Causes of Breathing difficulties: full list

Causes of Breathing difficulties:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Breathing difficulties. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Adult respiratory distress syndrome
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Aspiration of a foreign body
• Asthma
• Cor pulmonale
• Emphysema
• Flail chest
• Heart failure
• Myasthenia gravis
• Myocardial infarction
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumonia
• Pneumothorax
• Bulbar poliomyelitis
• Pulmonary edema
• Pulmonary embolism
• Shock
• Tuberculosis
• Pulmonary heart disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Rh problems
• Choking
• Foreign body inhalation
• Asthma attack
• Bronchiolitis
• Croup

See full list of 1291 causes of Breathing difficulties

» Review Causes of Breathing difficulties: full list

Causes of Types of Breathing difficulties:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Breathing difficulties:

• Wheezing (142 causes)
• Choking (45 causes)
• Rapid breathing (202 causes)
• Shallow breathing (32 causes)
• Shortness of breath (950 causes)
• Shortness of breath from exercise (711 causes)
• Orthopnea (40 causes)
• Irregular breathing (9 causes)
• ARDS (15 causes)
• Wheezing on exertion (1 cause)
• Accessory muscle use (10 causes)
• Acute Dyspnoea (8 causes)
• Apneustic respirations (1 cause)
• Bradypnea (5 causes)
• Chest expansion, asymmetrical
• Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (27 causes)
• Expiratory wheeze (11 causes)
• Nasal flaring (16 causes)
• Nocturnal dyspnoea (6 causes)
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (8 causes)

See full list of 83 types for Breathing difficulties

Breathing difficulties: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Breathing difficulties, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Breathing difficulties: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Breathing difficulties and Respiratory symptoms (1173 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Breathing symptoms (1168 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Breath symptoms (1162 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Heart symptoms (722 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Exercise symptoms (683 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Shortness of breath from exercise (678 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Heart rhythm symptoms (621 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Behavioral symptoms (538 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Head symptoms (516 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Personality symptoms (500 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Digestive symptoms (489 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Rapid heart beat (481 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Pain (479 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Nerve symptoms (476 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Sensations (457 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Muscle weakness (448 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Muscle symptoms (440 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Society problems (424 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Weakness (414 causes)
• Breathing difficulties and Fatigue (402 causes)

See full list of 2104 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Breathing difficulties

Home Diagnostic Testing and Breathing difficulties

Home medical tests possibly related to Breathing difficulties:

• Home Lung Function Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Breathing symptoms (1428 causes)
• Breath symptoms (1372 causes)
• Respiratory symptoms (1879 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Breathing difficulties

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Breathing difficulties:

• Wheezing (142 causes)
• Choking (45 causes)
• Shortness of breath (950 causes)
• Chest pain (536 causes)
• Difficulty breathing (1291 causes)
• Hyperventilation (82 causes)
• Lung symptoms (625 causes)
• Chest symptoms (596 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Breathing difficulties

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Breathing difficulties from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Breathing difficulties. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Breathing difficulties

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Breathing difficulties

Heart attack can be over-diagnosed: Although heart attack is often undiagnosed, leading to fatality, it can also be over-diagnosed. People become concerned that a condition is a heart attack, whereas there are various less...read more »

Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early...read more »

Wegener's granulomatosis can be missed out: Wegener's granulomatosis is a condition of unknown etiology which usually affects the upper respiratory...read more »

Poor prognosis for small cell cancer of lung: Small cell cancer of the lung is the leading cause of death. It is an undifferentiated tumour, which usually involves the right upper lobe of the lung parenchyma. It can easily spread through blood to...read more »

Aortic stenosis in the elderly: Aortic stenosis is a condition characterised by the calcification of a normal valve and is more common in the elderly population. This is the...read more »

Mitral regurgitation due to rheumatic fever: Mitral regurgitation occurs most commonly in men due to rheumatic fever and dilattaion of the left ventricle. It is characterised...read more »

Dyspnea commonest symptom in Aortic regurgitation: The most common cause of aortic regurgitation is rheumatic fever and even the mitral valve may be affected. It...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Breathing difficulties

Diagnostic tests for Breathing difficulties:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Breathing difficulties. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature
  • Inspect for blueness of tongue and skin, reduced alertness and distress due to breathing problems
  • Lung examination to listen to breath sound quality , intensity and for added sounds. Crackles suggest congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, lung fibrosis or bronchiectasis. Wheezes suggest asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema
  • Abdominal examination for enlarged liver which may be a sign of congestive heart failure

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Breathing difficulties

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Breathing difficulties. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• Was the onset sudden or gradual? - if sudden consider adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, lung collapse. If gradual onset, consider chronic diseases such as congestive cardiac failure, emphysema and fibrosis.
• What makes the breathing problems worse? - e.g. exertion, laying flat in bed.
• Recent history of bleeding? - e.g. heavy periods with clots, vomiting blood, bloody stools, rectal bleeding - may suggest anemia as cause for breathing problems.
• Past Medical history? - previous respiratory illness e.g. pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis; previous heart problems; HIV infection ( at high risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia); previous high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, heart attack, heart valve disease, deep venous thrombosis or Rheumatic fever@`
• Medications? - many different medications can produce lung problems e.g. pulmonary embolism from oral contraceptive pill; fibrotic lung diseases from cytotoxic agents such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and bleomycin; bronchospasm from beta-blockers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications; cough from ACE inhibitor @blood pressure medications.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Breathing difficulties (22 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Breathing difficulties) may include:

• Sputum - color and quantity? - e.g large volume pus-like suggests bronchiectasis or pneumonia; foul smelling dark colored suggests lung abscess; pink frothy secretions may due to left ventricular heart failure; blood in sputum can be a serious sign of lung disease and must always be investigated.
• Audible wheeze? - may suggest asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, airways obstruction (by a foreign body or tumor) or left ventricular heart failure.
• Stridor (a rasping noise heard loudest on inspiration)? - indicates obstruction of the larynx, trachea or large airways by a foreign body, a tumor or infection e.g. epiglottitis.
• Fever? - e.g. fever at night may suggest tuberculosis, pneumonia of mesothelioma ( tumor of lung lining due to asbestos exposure).
• Chest pain? - may be due to lung or heart disease.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Breathing difficulties (22 listings)

Stories from Users for Breathing difficulties

Real-life user stories relating to Breathing difficulties:

• Extreme fatigue, short of breath, light headed to almost passing out PLEASE HELP!
• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Undiagnosed breathing problem
• I still feel like I'm dieing...
• Dr. treats me like I'm crazy!
• Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
• Why do I feel like I'm dieing and noone seems to care?
• misdiagnosis trouble, need advice
• I feel like I'm dying and no one knows why - GI problems
• Shortness of breath, hissing and blacking out in the shower
• Shortness of breath+heart palpitations
• 25yr old father of 4 heart flutters short of breath
• shortness of breath...
• Shortness of Breath, Sternum.
• I feel like I'm dying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I can't breathe!
• 24yr old father of 4 short of breath heart flutters
• Too fat to breathe properly
• please help i can't breath
• Persistent cough for the last two weeks or so, with sputum and difficulty breathing

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Breathing difficulties or relevant symptoms:

• ENMT (Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat) (275)
  • Swelling in roof of mouth
  • Pain on one side of throat
  • Please help! Mucus/dark circles/bad breath...
  • Painful white bumps on tongue
  • Sinus headache & eye area pain
  • More user stories
• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
  • Chlorine/ammonia odor when I breathe
  • Chest Pain/Pain While Breathing
  • Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
  • Chest discomfort
  • Unable to get diagnosis....please help!
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Breathing difficulties

Patient Surveys for Breathing difficulties

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Causes of Breathing difficulties listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Breathing difficulties as a symptom include:

• Acidosis
• Acute lung syndrome
• Altitude sickness, acute
• Amniotic fluid embolism
• Anaphylactoid reactions
• Anaphylaxis
• Anemia
• Anthrax
• Ascariasis
• Atypical pneumonia
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchiolitis
• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Bronchogenic carcinoma
• Bronchogenic cyst
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency
• Cardiac failure, left sided
• Cetuximab
• Chlorine gas

See full list of 1291 causes of Breathing difficulties
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Breathing difficulties:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Breathing difficulties as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Echothiophate Iodide
• Phospholine Iodide
• Demecarium Bromide
• Humorsol
• Choline Magnesium Salicylate

See full list of 828 medications causing Breathing difficulties

Drug interactions causing Breathing difficulties:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Breathing difficulties as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Zolpidem and benzodiazepine interaction
• Ambien and benzodiazepine interaction
• Zolpidem and diazepam interaction
• Ambien and diazepam interaction
• Dymelor and alcohol interaction

See full list of 907 drug interactions causing Breathing difficulties

Definitions of Breathing difficulties:

Labored or difficult breathing associated with a variety of disorders, indicating inadequate ventilation or low blood oxygen.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Organs affected by Breathing difficulties:

The list of organs typically affected by Breathing difficulties may include, but is not limited to:

• Heart
• Lungs
• Throat

Detailed list of causes of Breathing difficulties

The list below shows some of the causes of Breathing difficulties mentioned in various sources:

• 2-methylbutyryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency - breathing difficulty
• 4-Alpha-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase deficiency - rapid breathing
• Abdominal Cancer - breathlessness
• Aberrant subclavian artery abnormality - stridor
• Absence of pulmonary artery - breathing difficulty

See full list of 1291 causes of Breathing difficulties

How Common are these Causes of Breathing difficulties?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Breathing difficulties. Of the 1291 causes of Breathing difficulties that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 17 causes are "very common" diseases
• 25 causes are "common" diseases
• 14 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 7 causes are "rare" diseases
• 56 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 1212 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 1291 causes of Breathing difficulties

Conditions listing symptoms: Breathing difficulties:

The following list of conditions have 'Breathing difficulties' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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