Symptom: Rapid breathing

Introduction: Rapid breathing

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 Rapid breathing: full list

Causes of Rapid breathing:

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

• Some everyday causes of rapid breathing include:
  • Exercise or exertion
  • Poor physical condition
  • Stress
• Hyperventilation
• Some psychological disorders that may cause rapid breathing include:
  • Anxiety attack - an imprecise name for a less severe panic attack.
  • Panic attack - a panic attack usually causes many physical symptoms including rapid breathing.
  • Panic disorder
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Sexual aversion disorder - not a common cause of rapid breathing.
• Some physical diseases that may cause rapid breathing include:
  • Heart attack
  • Lung disorders
  • Asthma
  • Bronchitis
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Nervous system disorders
  • Neurological disorders (see Cognitive impairment)
• Amphetamine intoxication
• See also causes of shallow breathing or breathing difficulty
• Fever
• Myocardial infarction
• Hemorrhage
• Trauma
• Pulmonary embolism
• Metabolic acidosis

See full list of 202 causes of Rapid breathing

» Review Causes of Rapid breathing: full list

Causes of Types of Rapid breathing:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Rapid breathing:

• Hyperpnea (11 causes)

More types of Rapid breathing

Rapid breathing: Multiple Symptom Checker

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

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Rapid breathing: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Rapid breathing and Breathing difficulties (162 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Respiratory symptoms (162 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Breath symptoms (160 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Breathing symptoms (160 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Heart symptoms (113 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Skin symptoms (96 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Heart rhythm symptoms (96 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Skin problems (94 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Rapid heart beat (87 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Nerve symptoms (85 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Pain (85 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Skin color changes (83 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Muscle symptoms (83 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Sensations (83 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Fatigue (79 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Muscle weakness (78 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Head symptoms (76 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Weakness (73 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Behavioral symptoms (72 causes)
• Rapid breathing and Digestive symptoms (71 causes)

See full list of 1183 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Rapid breathing

Home Diagnostic Testing and Rapid breathing

Home medical tests possibly related to Rapid breathing:

• Home Lung Function Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Breathing symptoms (1428 causes)
• Breathing difficulties (1291 causes)
• Breath symptoms (1372 causes)
• Respiratory symptoms (1879 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Rapid breathing

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Rapid breathing:

• Breathing difficulty (1291 causes)
• Wheezing (142 causes)
• Shallow breathing (32 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Rapid breathing

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

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

Misdiagnosis and Rapid breathing

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. Some of the chronic lung diseases with diagnostic difficulties include asthma (perhaps surprisingly), COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, mesothelioma, smoker's cough, AIDS-related respiratory conditions (see AIDS), chronic pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. Rare possibilities include diseases like psittacosis (bird-related lung infection). See other types of chronic lung diseases....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Rapid breathing

Diagnostic tests for Rapid breathing:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Rapid breathing. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Count rate of breathing. The normal rate at rest in adults should not exceed 14 breaths per minute
  • 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

See full list of 28 diagnostic tests for Rapid breathing

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

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Rapid breathing. 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:

• How long have you had the rapid breathing? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Was the onset sudden or gradual? - if sudden consider adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, lung collapse or panic attack. If gradual onset, consider chronic diseases such as congestive cardiac failure, emphysema and fibrosis.
• What makes the rapid breathing worse? - e.g. exertion, laying flat in bed, anxiety, fears.
• Is there a simple, everyday explanation for rapid breathing? - e.g. exercise, exertion, poor physical condition (unfit), stress.
• Recent history of bleeding? - e.g. heavy periods with clots, vomiting blood, bloody stools, rectal bleeding - may suggest anemia as cause for the rapid breathing.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Rapid breathing (29 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 Rapid breathing) may include:

• Cough?
• Sputum - color and quantity? - e.g. large volume pus-like may suggest 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.
• Chest pain? - may be due to lung or heart disease.
• Fever? - e.g. fever at night may suggest tuberculosis, pneumonia of mesothelioma ( tumor of lung lining due to asbestos exposure).

See Diagnosis Checklist for Rapid breathing (29 listings)

Stories from Users for Rapid breathing

Real-life user stories relating to Rapid breathing:

• Breathing issues
• I can't breathe!
• please help i can't breath
• Too fat to breathe properly
• Cant Breath No 1 Listens
• 25yr old father of 5 cant breath
• getting climax too fast
• frequent deep breaths.. . .. . (worried)
• I can't breathe!
• My Husband, 21, Cannot Breathe and We Cannot Get a Diagnoses :(
• can't catch breath
• **** Breath
• Gasping for breath
• Bad breath
• I can't get a deep enough breath.
• breathing in bleach while cleaning.
• rapid deterioration of handwriting
• SED Rate 46
• Breathing....
• breath issue

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

• 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
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • 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
• Psychiatric (Mental Health) (218)
  • PLEASE can anyone help my son?!
  • My husbands making me sad
  • Heart condition or mental health problem?
  • Anxiety or...?
  • Weird Behavior at School. Normal?
  • 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 Rapid breathing

Patient Surveys for Rapid breathing

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Medications or substances causing Rapid breathing:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Rapid breathing 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.

• Amphetamine intoxication
• Procyclidine
• Kemadrin
• Disipal
• Theophylline

See full list of 85 medications causing Rapid breathing

Drug interactions causing Rapid breathing:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Rapid breathing 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.

• Phenelzine and tricyclic antidepressant interaction
• Nardil and tricyclic antidepressant interaction
• Parnate and tricyclic antidepressant interaction
• S-Adenosylmethionine and Clomipramine interaction
• Venlafaxine and Metoclopramide interaction

See full list of 8 drug interactions causing Rapid breathing

Organs affected by Rapid breathing:

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

• Brain
• Heart
• Lungs

Detailed list of causes of Rapid breathing

The list below shows some of the causes of Rapid breathing mentioned in various sources:

• 4-Alpha-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase deficiency - rapid breathing
• Accelerated silicosis - rapid breathing
• Acrocephaly - pulmonary stenosis - mental retardation - rapid breathing
• Acute circulatory collapse
• Acute pneumonias

See full list of 202 causes of Rapid breathing

How Common are these Causes of Rapid breathing?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Rapid breathing. Of the 202 causes of Rapid breathing that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 7 causes are "very common" diseases
• 7 causes are "common" diseases
• 4 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 12 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 186 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 202 causes of Rapid breathing

Conditions listing symptoms: Rapid breathing:

The following list of conditions have 'Rapid breathing' 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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Causes of Rapid breathing Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Rapid breathing based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: