Symptom: Shortness of breath

Introduction: Shortness of breath

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 Shortness of breath: full list

Causes of Shortness of breath:

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

• Some possible causes of shortness of breath include:
  • Exercise
  • Exertion
  • Poor physical condition
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Tension
  • Smoking
  • Depression
  • High altitude location
  • Hyperventilation
  • High fever
  • Wheezing - see also causes of wheezing
• Respiratory conditions causing shortness of breath include:
  • Common cold
  • Respiratory infection
  • Lung infection
  • Pneumonia
  • Bronchitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chronic lung disease (see Lung symptoms)
  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • COPD
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Airway obstruction

See full list of 933 causes of Shortness of breath

» Review Causes of Shortness of breath: full list

Causes of Types of Shortness of breath:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Shortness of breath:

• Shortness of breath from exercise (711 causes)
• Difficulty breathing when lying down (29 causes)
• Acute Dyspnoea (8 causes)
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (8 causes)
• Hypoventilation (60 causes)
• Breathlessness on exertion (6 causes)

More types of Shortness of breath

Home Diagnostic Testing and Shortness of breath

Home medical tests possibly related to Shortness of breath:

• Home Lung Function Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Breathing difficulties (1276 causes)
• Shortness of breath from exercise (711 causes)
• Exercise symptoms (746 causes)
• Breath symptoms (1371 causes)
• Breathing symptoms (1427 causes)
• Respiratory symptoms (1878 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Shortness of breath

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Shortness of breath:

• Difficulty breathing (1276 causes)
• Noisy breathing
• Slow breathing (19 causes)
• Rapid breathing (202 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Shortness of breath

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

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

Misdiagnosis and Shortness of breath

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 dangerous possibilities. After all, there...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. Some of...read more »

Silent attack in diabetics: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among diabetics. Patients with type 2 diabetes above the age of 60-65 years are susceptible to silent heart attacks.Diabetes being a...read more »

Pulmonary embolism- medical emergency: Pulmonary embolism is a common and potentially lethal disease; unfortunately, the diagnosis is often missed because...read more »

Severe asthma is a medical emergency: Severe asthma is a life threatening condition that is resistant to standard treatment and requires intensive medication to overcome the obstruction to the air passages. Studies suggest that asthma...read more »

Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis non specific presentation: Cryptogenic fibrosing alveoloitis is a chronic lung disease occurring due to the inflammation of the alveoli. The aetiology and pathogenesis are not known. The commonest symptoms are shortness...read more »

Pneumothorax or myocardial infarction?: Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously in individuals with known lung disorders such as asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, but sometimes it can also occur in previously healthy individuals, especially tall...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Shortness of breath

Diagnostic tests for Shortness of breath:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Shortness of breath. 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 Shortness of breath

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

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Shortness of breath. 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 shortness of breath? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Was the onset of shortness of breath 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 shortness of breath worse? - e.g. exercise (see Shortness_of_breath_from_exercise), laying flat in bed.
• Recent history of bleeding? - e.g. heavy periods with clots, vomiting blood, bloody stools, rectal bleeding - may suggest anemia as the cause for shortness of breath.
• Past Medical history? - previous respiratory illness (e.g. pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis); previous heart problems (heart disease, heart attack, heart valve disease); HIV infection ( at high risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia); previous high blood pressure; deep venous thrombosis; Rheumatic fever.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Shortness of breath (23 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 Shortness of breath) may include:

• Cough? - may be due to lung or heart disease.
• 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 be 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 or mesothelioma ( tumor of lung lining due to asbestos exposure).

See Diagnosis Checklist for Shortness of breath (23 listings)

Stories from Users for Shortness of breath

Real-life user stories relating to Shortness of breath:

• Extreme fatigue, short of breath, light headed to almost passing out PLEASE HELP!
• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• still undiagnosed after 3yrs
• Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
• sneezing after exercise
• Couldn't move or breathe-could someone help
• Miserable after giving birth......dizzy, lightheaded, short of breath
• Shortness of breath, hissing and blacking out in the shower
• Shortness of breath+heart palpitations
• strange symptoms, no diagnosis after 18 months
• 25yr old father of 4 heart flutters short of breath
• Seroma after tummy tuck
• Shortness of Breath, Sternum.
• Still Puzzled after 6 years
• shortness of breath...
• Breathing issues
• Please Help. I'm tired and I'm running out of fight.
• I can't breathe!
• No diagnosis, many tests after 10 months
• 24yr old father of 4 short of breath heart flutters

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Shortness of breath 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
• 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 Shortness of breath

Patient Surveys for Shortness of breath

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Shortness of breath
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Causes of Shortness of breath listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Shortness of breath 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 933 causes of Shortness of breath
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Shortness of breath:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Shortness of breath 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.

• Certain medications
• Amphetamines
• Rubbing alcohol
• Solvin
• Asprodeine

See full list of 174 medications causing Shortness of breath

Drug interactions causing Shortness of breath:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Shortness of breath 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.

• Dymelor and alcohol interaction
• Diabinese and alcohol interaction
• Amaryl and alcohol interaction
• Glucotrol and alcohol interaction
• Glucotrol XL and alcohol interaction

See full list of 460 drug interactions causing Shortness of breath

Definitions of Shortness of breath:

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

A dyspneic condition
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Shortness of breath:

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

• General constitution
• Heart
• Lungs

Detailed list of causes of Shortness of breath

The list below shows some of the causes of Shortness of breath mentioned in various sources:

• Abdominal Cancer - breathlessness
• Acarophobia - shortness of breath
• Accelerated silicosis - shortness of breath
• Achalasia - breathlessness
• Achluophobia - shortness of breath

See full list of 933 causes of Shortness of breath

How Common are these Causes of Shortness of breath?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Shortness of breath. Of the 933 causes of Shortness of breath that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 18 causes are "very common" diseases
• 20 causes are "common" diseases
• 11 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 2 causes are "rare" diseases
• 40 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 872 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 933 causes of Shortness of breath

Conditions listing symptoms: Shortness of breath:

The following list of conditions have 'Shortness of breath' 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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