Sudden breathing problems must have overtaken everyone. The intense rhythm of life, poor ecology, long stay in a stuffy room lead to changes in the depth and duration of inhalations/exhalations. As a rule, short-term difficulties arise with fright, stress, shock, but in general they are not dangerous and pass quickly.
Causes of difficulty breathing: determine the type of condition
To recognize the pathology, it is necessary to pay attention to the following characteristics of the symptom:
- The nature of the breath;
- duration of seizures;
- The frequency of their occurrence;
- related factors.
The main causes of difficulty breathing or regular shortness of breath
- First of all, they assume lung disease. For example, this can be observed with a viral infection and after that, with a cold, from heat and cough. In this case, the lungs cannot provide gas exchange in full. This state, if accompanied by a cough, can lead to the transition of the disease to a chronic form, which is characterized by a decrease in lung function. In such a situation, a full pulmonological examination and the appointment of appropriate therapeutic measures are necessary.
A potential danger is present when there is a high probability of developing chronic obstructive pathology. Such a lung disease is accompanied by lethargy of the organ and the progression of the adhesive process.
Often difficulties arise in people who quit smoking.
- Cardiac pathology cannot be ruled out. Difficulty breathing, a feeling of lack of air, difficulties in performing physical work (carrying weights, climbing stairs, even walking) can occur with damage to the arterial vessels of the heart that feed the myocardium. It is worth noting that shortness of breath - a violation of the rhythm and depth of breathing - is the first symptom of angina pectoris. If there are other unpleasant symptoms, such as pain in the area chest need to see a cardiologist immediately.
Vascular problems are one of the main causes of shortness of breath. Difficulty breathing often occurs after a stroke, prolonged flu, or as a result of an injury. At the same time, working capacity decreases, drowsiness is observed, attention is disturbed.
Such disorders are caused by increased intracranial pressure.
In such a situation, it is necessary to consult a neurologist. Violation of cerebral circulation, accompanied by vasospasm, can also lead to breathing difficulties.
- Bronchial asthma is another common reason. As a rule, attacks are accompanied by suffocation and are transferred rather hard. This pathology is often the result of chronic bronchitis. With cardiac shortness of breath, it is difficult to inhale, and with an attack of bronchial asthma, it is difficult to exhale.
- Difficulty breathing often occurs with osteochondrosis. When the pathology is localized in the thoracic spine, it is difficult to take breaths, breathing becomes superficial and rapid. With cervical osteochondrosis, there are slight signs of oxygen starvation, then yawning appears, breathing becomes shallow, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, cyanosis, and blurred vision are observed.
- Disorders nervous system adversely affect the entire body, including respiratory function. In particular, regular stresses, accompanied by a violation of pressure, have a pathological effect. With strong excitement, the saturation of the brain with oxygen is required, but the body is not able to provide this process, resulting in respiratory spasm, heart palpitations. Usually, to fix the problem, it is enough to calm down and rest. In order to normalize your condition as soon as possible, you need to breathe evenly and deeply.
- Can cause a problem progressive anemia. In this case, when examining for the presence of pathologies of the heart and lungs, they will not be detected.
It is possible to detect the disease only through a blood test, as well as based on the patient's complaints. As a rule, people suffering from anemia constantly feel tired (even after a long rest), loss of strength, weakness, they have low stamina.
- Another reason is allergies. Difficulty breathing is observed with allergies after contact with an irritant.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon very often accompanies such a pathology.
Severe allergies, e.g. to injection medications, can provoke Quincke's edema - a pathology that requires immediate medical intervention.
What to do in case of lack of air?
The problem often occurs during the performance of unusual high-intensity physical work. Tissues and organs produce energy and carbon dioxide, respectively, they require a supply of oxygen. But if the respiratory system is untrained, then it is not able to provide the body.
Difficulties also arise in conditions where the air is depleted of oxygen, for example, in high mountainous areas, in unventilated rooms, in rooms with an abundance of allergens (animal dander, plant pollen, household dust).
If the problem is in no way related to the conditions of stay and physical labor, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures, which include:
- Cardiogram of the heart at rest and after exercise;
- Determination of the total volume and performance of the lungs;
- General blood analysis. It is very important to study the amount of formed elements responsible for the transport of oxygen molecules, hemoglobin and erythrocytes.
In some cases, it is necessary to purchase a tonometer and take regular measurements, as the problem may be associated with changes blood pressure.
Difficulty breathing after eating
In such a situation, there is a need for gastroscopy, as well as ultrasound examination of organs. abdominal cavity.
How to eliminate the lack of air
Even in well-ventilated buildings, the air is worse than outside. Household appliances, synthetic coatings, small areas, dust lead to the fact that the air is polluted. Saturated with carbon dioxide, it cannot fully provide nutrition to tissues and organs. As a result, performance decreases, seizures and suffocation occur. Such conditions are especially dangerous for people suffering from bronchial asthma.
Causes of difficulty breathing in a child
In a normal state, the baby breathes silently and effortlessly. With poor airway patency, a high-pitched sound appears, as the air passes with effort. Wheezes are sounds that are observed during inhalation / exhalation. The patency of the latter can be disturbed by edema provoked by an infection, a foreign body, inflammation, spasm of the muscles of the bronchi in asthma. Especially dangerous difficulty breathing, observed only when inhaling, as it can be a symptom of croup.
If the problem is accompanied by:
- blue skin of the nasolabial triangle;
- lethargy;
- drowsiness;
- inability to speak or make familiar sounds;
With such symptoms, urgent hospitalization and diagnosis may be necessary.
A sudden problem, as a rule, is due to the ingress of a foreign body. Minor difficulties accompany SARS.
Difficulty breathing often occurs in a child with SARS, when there is a runny nose and cough.
In this case, it is necessary to contact the pediatrician, give the patient plenty of warm drinks.
Shortness of breath or dyspnea is one of the most common complaints that patients present. This subjective sensation is often one of the symptoms of a serious respiratory or cardiovascular disease. It also occurs with obesity and anemia. The emerging feeling of lack of oxygen can be a reason for urgently seeking help from a doctor. In some cases, a patient with shortness of breath needs urgent hospitalization and urgent measures to maintain vital functions.
Table of contents:Classification of dyspnea
Dyspnea is acute, subacute and chronic. When short of breath, a person feels tightness in the chest. Objectively, the depth of inspiration increases, and the frequency of respiratory movements (RR) increases to 18 or more per minute.
Normally, a person never pays attention to how he breathes. Against the background of more or less significant physical activity, the respiratory rate and the depth of breaths usually increase, as the body's need for oxygen increases, but this is not associated with discomfort. In this case we are talking about physiological dyspnea. After the termination of the load, the breathing of a healthy person returns to normal in a few minutes. If the feeling of lack of air occurs when performing normal activities or at rest, then this is no longer the norm. In such cases, it is customary to talk about pathological dyspnea, indicating that the patient has a certain disease.
There are three types of shortness of breath:
- inspiratory;
- expiratory;
- mixed.
Inspiratory variety characterized by difficulty breathing. It develops against the background of narrowing of the lumen of the organs of the respiratory system - the trachea and bronchi. Such shortness of breath is detected in some chronic diseases (asthma), as well as in acute inflammation of the pleura and injuries leading to compression of the bronchi.
At expiratory dyspnea the patient finds it difficult to exhale. The cause of the problem is the narrowing of the lumen of the small bronchi. Shortness of breath of this type is characteristic of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Among the most common causes of development in clinical practice mixed dyspnea include advanced lung pathologies, as well as heart failure.
Based on the patient's complaints, the degree of dyspnea is determined according to the MRC scale.
It is customary to distinguish 5 degrees:
- 0 degree - dyspnea develops only with significant physical exertion, i.e. we are not talking about pathological shortness of breath;
- Grade 1 - mild shortness of breath. Respiratory failure occurs when lifting up or walking at a fast pace;
- 2 - average degree. Shortness of breath occurs during normal walking, and the patient has to make stops so that breathing returns to normal;
- 3 degree of shortness of breath - severe dyspnea. When walking, a person is forced to make stops every 2-3 minutes;
- Grade 4 - very severe dyspnea. Breathing becomes difficult against the background of minimal exertion and even at rest.
There are 4 main reasons for the development of dyspnea:
- heart failure;
- respiratory failure;
- metabolic disorders;
- hyperventilation syndrome.
Note:respiratory failure can be caused by problems with the pulmonary vessels, diffuse lesions of the lung tissue, a decrease in bronchial patency, as well as pathologies of the respiratory muscles.
Hyperventilation syndrome manifests itself in some varieties and against the background of neurocirculatory dystonia.
The cause of shortness of breath in heart disease, as a rule, is an increase in pressure in the vessels that feed the myocardium.
Dyspnea in cardiac pathologies increases as the disease progresses. On the early stages it develops under load, and when the process is running, it appears even at rest.
Note:in severe lesions of the heart, nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea is often noted, which is an attack of suffocation that suddenly develops in a dream. The pathology is also known as cardiac asthma; its cause is the stagnation of fluid in the lungs.
Shortness of breath in pathologies of the respiratory system is often chronic. It can be observed in the patient for months and years. This type of dyspnea is characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, when the lumen of the airways narrows and sputum accumulates in it. In the patient, a short, quick breath is followed by a labored exhalation, accompanied by noise. In parallel with expiratory dyspnea, cough and discharge of a viscous secretion are often noted. After using an inhaler with a bronchodilator, as a rule, breathing returns to normal. If it is not possible to stop an attack with conventional medicines, then the patient's condition deteriorates very quickly. Lack of oxygen leads to loss of consciousness. In such cases, urgent medical attention is required.
In diseases of infectious genesis (acute and), the severity of shortness of breath directly depends on the severity of the pathological process. With adequate therapy, the symptoms stop within a few days. Severe pneumonia can lead to heart failure. At the same time, shortness of breath increases. This condition is an indication for urgent hospitalization of the patient.
Gradually increasing persistent dyspnea may indicate the presence of neoplasms in the lungs. The severity of the symptom increases as the tumor grows. In addition to shortness of breath, the patient has a hacking unproductive cough, often hemoptysis, general weakness and cachexia (significant weight loss).
Important:The most dangerous pathologies of the respiratory system, in which shortness of breath occurs, are toxic pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism (PE) and local airway obstruction.
With thromboembolism, there is a blockage of the branches of the pulmonary artery by blood clots. As a result, part of the organ ceases to participate in the act of breathing. Dyspnea in this situation develops suddenly, worries with minimal exertion and even at rest. The patient complains of tightness and pain in the chest, which resembles the symptoms of an angina attack. In some cases, hemoptysis is noted.
Airway obstruction may be due to aspiration of a foreign object, compression of the bronchi or trachea from the outside (with aortic aneurysm and tumors), cicatricial narrowing of the lumen, or chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases. With obstruction, dyspnea is inspiratory in nature. The patient's breathing is loud with a whistling noise. Violation of the airway is accompanied by suffocation and a painful cough, aggravated by a change in body position. Bronchodilators in such cases are ineffective; it is necessary to mechanically restore the patency of the trachea and bronchi and measures aimed at treating the underlying disease.
The cause of shortness of breath can also be toxic edema, which develops as a result of inhalation of aggressive substances or against the background of an infectious lesion of the respiratory organs with severe intoxication of the body. The patient has increasing shortness of breath, which, as the process progresses, is replaced by suffocation. When breathing, bubbling sounds are clearly audible. In this situation, urgent medical care is needed, involving the maintenance of respiratory function and detoxification of the body.
Respiratory failure develops in such an acute condition as pneumothorax. With a penetrating wound of the chest, air enters the pleural cavity and presses on the lung, preventing it from expanding on inspiration. The patient needs emergency surgery.
Shortness of breath is one of the symptoms of tuberculosis, actinomycosis, and emphysema.
Important:dyspnea can develop with pronounced. The cause of shortness of breath and shortness of breath in this case is the deformation of the chest.
To establish the factors leading to the development of respiratory failure, additional (instrumental) research methods are needed: radiography (fluorography), spirometry, ECG, tomography, angiography and bronchoscopy.
One of the causes of shortness of breath is anemia. When the number of red blood cells decreases in the blood or the content of hemoglobin in red blood cells decreases. Since hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen to all cells, hypoxia develops when it is deficient. The body reflexively tries to compensate for the lack of oxygen, so the frequency of breathing quickens, and the person takes deeper breaths. The causes of anemia can be congenital metabolic disorders, insufficient intake of iron by the alimentary route, chronic blood loss, serious illnesses, blood cancer, etc.
Patients with anemia complain of general weakness, memory impairment, decreased ability to concentrate, loss of appetite and. The skin of such patients is pale or icteric. The disease is easily diagnosed based on the data laboratory analysis blood. The type of anemia is specified during additional studies. Treatment is carried out by a hematologist.
Dyspnea often accompanies such endocrine pathologies as, (thyroid disease) and. With thyrotoxicosis, metabolism is accelerated, as a result of which the body's need for oxygen increases. An increase in the level of thyroid hormones increases the frequency of myocardial contractions, and the heart cannot pump blood to other tissues in the required volume. As a result, hypoxia develops, forcing a person to breathe faster and deeper.
Obesity significantly complicates the work of the lungs, heart and respiratory muscles, which also leads to oxygen deficiency.
Diabetes mellitus, as it progresses, affects the blood vessels, so all the tissues of the body begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Diabetic nephropathy leads to anemia, which further increases hypoxia and causes shortness of breath.
Shortness of breath in nervous disorders
Up to 75% of patients of psychiatrists and neurologists complain of more or less pronounced shortness of breath from time to time. Such patients are disturbed by a feeling of lack of air, which is often accompanied by a fear of death from suffocation. Patients with psychogenic dyspnea are mostly suspicious people with an unstable psyche and a tendency to hypochondria. Shortness of breath can develop in them with stress or even for no apparent reason. In some cases, the so-called. false asthma attacks.
A specific feature of shortness of breath in neurotic conditions is its “noise design” by the patient. He breathes loudly and often, groans and groans, trying to attract attention.
During pregnancy, the total volume of circulating blood increases. The respiratory system of a woman must supply oxygen to two organisms at once - the expectant mother and the developing fetus. Since the uterus increases significantly in size, it presses on the diaphragm, somewhat reducing the respiratory excursion. These changes cause shortness of breath in many pregnant women. The respiratory rate increases to 22-24 breaths per minute and further increases with emotional or physical stress. Dyspnea may progress as the fetus grows; in addition, it is aggravated by anemia, which is often noted in expectant mothers. If the respiratory rate exceeds the above values, this is a reason to show increased alertness and consult with the doctor of the antenatal clinic, leading the pregnancy.
Shortness of breath in children
In children, the respiratory rate is different; it gradually decreases as it grows older.
It is possible to suspect pathological shortness of breath in a child if the frequency of breaths per minute exceeds the following indicators:
- 0-6 months - 60;
- 6 months - 1 year - 50;
- 1 year -5 years - 40;
- 5-10 years - 25;
- 10-14 years old - 20.
It is recommended to determine the respiratory rate while the child is sleeping. In this case, the measurement error will be minimal. During feeding and physical activity or emotional arousal, the baby's breathing rate always increases, but this is not a deviation. It is worth worrying if the respiratory rate does not return to normal numbers at rest within the next few minutes.
Causes of dyspnea and shortness of breath in children include:
If the child has shortness of breath, it must be urgently shown to the local pediatrician. Severe respiratory failure requires an ambulance call, as it is a life-threatening condition.
Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms in medical practice. The presence of slight shortness of breath (OD) does not always indicate the development of serious diseases. Many people, including those who do not have heart pathologies or diseases of the respiratory system, experienced shortness of breath after strong physical exertion, prolonged exposure to a poorly ventilated or smoky room, stressful situations, severe fatigue, etc.
Some emotional patients complain that they lack air when talking (especially when public speaking is required). OD and pain in the heart that occur at the height of emotional stress in young people are frequent companions cardioneurosis.
However, regular OD when walking short distances or at rest, combined with severe dizziness, weakness, arrhythmias (feelings of interruptions in the work of the heart), changes in skin color, etc., is a serious reason to consult a doctor for a comprehensive examination and identification the reasons for its occurrence.
Breathlessness is clinical symptom, manifested by a violation of the frequency and depth of breathing, as well as a change in the rhythm of respiratory movements familiar to the patient. The development of OD is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, up to a feeling of suffocation.
How to pronounce: shortness of breath or shortness of breath
The term shortness of breath, which is often used by many patients, does not exist in medicine. The feeling of shortness of breath is called shortness of breath or dyspnea.
Shortness of breath - symptoms
In addition to a feeling of lack of air, dyspnea can be accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the chest, suffocation, blanching or redness of the face, tachycardia, inability to fully inhale or exhale.
Also, in severe cases, the appearance of pathological types of breathing is possible:
Dyspnea classification
The increased frequency of respiratory movements (while the breathing itself is superficial) is called tachypnea. The rapid breathing of patients with severe tachypnea may resemble "the breath of a hunted animal" - noisy, frequent and superficial.
For reference. Shortness of breath, accompanied by an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements, as a rule, is compensatory, that is, it occurs in response to an O2 deficiency in organ and tissue structures. The development of such shortness of breath is indicative of heart failure (HF).
At the very beginning of the disease, shortness of breath and fatigue during physical activity may be the first and long time the only signs of the disease. With the progression of the disease, lack of air begins to appear not only when performing physical activity, but also with minimal movements or complete rest.
If rapid respiratory movements are accompanied by deep, full breaths, then this type of shortness of breath is called hyperpnea. It should be noted that if cardiac dyspnea is compensatory and occurs as a response of the body to developed hypoxia, hyperpnea is often a controlled type of breathing.
An example of controlled hyperventilation (hyperpnea) is rapid breathing during exercise. In this case, rapid breathing will not be compensatory, but adaptive, helping to endure increased stress without the development of hypoxia.
Physiological dyspnea will differ from pathological dyspnea in heart failure in that it will not be accompanied by:
- significant feeling of suffocation,
- heartache,
- dizziness
- severe weakness.
This is due to the fact that in the event of cardiac shortness of breath, due to a violation of the ability of the myocardium to contract, an increased respiratory rate allows you to slightly compensate for the oxygen starvation of the tissues.
Important. In healthy people who do not have heart problems, such physiological shortness of breath will contribute to the full adaptation of the body to increased oxygen consumption by tissues.
In addition to the cardiac cause of shortness of breath, tachypnea can be observed with:
- anemia,
- feverish conditions,
- nervous excitement,
- initial stages of shocks.
Decreased number of breaths
In some cases, dyspnea may be accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of respiratory movements. This shortness of breath is called bradypnea. The decrease in respiratory rate develops due to the lengthening of the respiratory pauses.Shortness of breath accompanied by superficial bradypnea is called oligopnea.
Attention. Severe lack of air, accompanied by a sharp depression in the frequency of respiratory movements, can be observed in patients with head injuries, cerebral hemorrhage, severe intoxication, etc.
Complete cessation of breathing movements is called apnea. Apnea can often be intermittent. Physiological brief 
sleep apnea can sometimes occur in young children. Such pauses in breathing are short-term and are not accompanied by a change in the color of the baby's face.
In an adult, this variant of dyspnea can occur during sleep. Risk factors for the development of sleep apnea in an adult patient are:
- the presence of obesity;
- chronic pulmonary pathologies;
- taking sedatives or tranquilizers;
- alcoholism;
- hormonal diseases, menopause;
- prolonged smoking;
- the presence of SD ( diabetes), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), deviated nasal septum.
Specific shortness of breath in heart failure, which develops when the patient tries to take a horizontal position (lie down to rest), is called orthopnea. For this variant of shortness of breath, it is characteristic that when the patient takes a forced position (sitting, with a slight inclination forward, slightly leaning on his hands), the OD decreases.
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Classification of dyspnea by form
Depending on which phase of breathing is disturbed (inhalation or exhalation), shortness of breath is usually divided into inspiratory, expiratory and mixed. The development of suffocation is taken out in a separate class.
Inspiratory dyspnea is a breathing disorder associated with difficulty breathing. The development of such dyspnea occurs in the presence of an obstacle that impedes the flow of air into the lungs.
Inspiratory dyspnea is indicative for patients:
- with swelling of the vocal cords or subglottic space,
- in the presence of tumors in the lungs,
- in the presence of foreign bodies in the bronchi,
- with pharyngeal abscess,
- with the development of false croup.
Unlike inspiratory dyspnea, expiratory dyspnea develops due to the inability to perform a full exhalation. The development of expiratory OD is associated with the inability of the patient to complete a full exhalation due to narrowing, spasm or swelling of the bronchial mucosa. Expiratory OD develops in the presence of:
- chronic inflammatory process in the bronchi;
- pathological destruction of the alveolar septa;
- syndrome of excessive air retention, due to the impossibility of its full exhalation from the lungs with:
- bronchial asthma,
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
- pulmonary emphysema.
Cardiac dyspnea is mixed. That is, shortness of breath in heart failure is accompanied by difficulty in both inhalation and exhalation. Also, a mixed variant of dyspnea occurs in patients with:
- pneumonia
- bronchitis,
- chronic respiratory failure,
- pneumothorax,
- ascites (both in chronic heart failure and arising for other reasons).
In some cases, mixed dyspnea after eating may occur in patients with severe flatulence or in very obese patients. Shortness of breath after eating, combined with abdominal pain (pain occurs 10-15 minutes after eating) and dyspeptic disorders, is typical for patients with Dunbar's syndrome - compression stenosis of the celiac trunk.
Important. An extreme manifestation of respiratory failure is considered an attack of suffocation. This type dyspnea is characteristic of an asthma attack, with the development of status asthmaticus.
According to the time of occurrence and duration of dyspnea attacks, dyspnea can be temporary and permanent. An example of temporary shortness of breath is respiratory failure with pneumonia.
Attention. Cardiac dyspnea, as well as OD in chronic respiratory failure or obstructive pulmonary disease, are permanent in nature with an increase during physical activity. In severe diseases, shortness of breath begins to disturb patients even at rest.
What can cause shortness of breath
Normally, shortness of breath can occur when: 
- prolonged stay in a stuffy or smoky room;
- excessive physical activity;
- overheating (visiting a sauna, bath) or hypothermia;
- pregnancy.
Pathological shortness of breath is characteristic of CCC diseases (cardiac shortness of breath), pulmonary pathologies, moderate and severe anemia, blood diseases accompanied by inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis (severe leukemia).
Also, shortness of breath can occur with:
- intoxications;
- high temperature (fever);
- dehydration, infectious diseases accompanied by damage to the lung tissue (pneumonia) or significant intoxication;
- severe allergic reactions (OD associated with laryngeal edema can be observed with Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock);
- cardioneurosis;
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- obesity
- severe flatulence;
- Dunbar's syndrome;
- hepatolienal syndrome (enlargement of the liver and spleen;
- diseases of the endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis);
- hormonal failure, due to the onset of menopause;
- hemorrhage in the brain;
- traumatic brain injury.
Shortness of breath during pregnancy
Moderate shortness of breath during pregnancy is absolutely normal and does not require special treatment in cases where it is not accompanied by:- blanching, redness or blueness of the face;
- bradyarrhythmia or severe tachycardia;
- sensations of interruptions in the work of the heart and pain behind the sternum;
- the appearance of anxiety, restlessness or impaired consciousness, lethargy, loss of consciousness;
- the smell of acetone.
For reference. OD during pregnancy is most pronounced in the third trimester. Such shortness of breath is associated with a pronounced load on the woman's body, a significant increase in body weight and increased pressure of the enlarged uterus (due to the growth of the fetus) on the diaphragm.
This makes it difficult to breathe and leads to breathing problems, increased shortness of breath in pregnant women is observed after walking or eating.
Also, shortness of breath during pregnancy may be associated with temporary pressure on the celiac trunk and abdominal aorta.
After childbirth, breathing is completely restored.
Shortness of breath in children
Severe respiratory failure in newborns is observed when:
- asphyxia of newborns,
- hypoxia (fetal distress),
- malformations of the lungs,
- deep prematurity,
- congenital heart defects.
Also, the causes of dyspnea in children can be:
- cystic fibrosis,
- false croup,
- anemia,
- bronchitis,
- pneumonia,
- severe allergic reactions
- intoxication,
- anemia, etc.
Shortness of breath in lung diseases
Respiratory failure is a constant companion of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Regular shortness of breath and cough can also bother long-term smokers.
Also, severe dyspnea is observed in patients with cystic fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, pneumothorax.
In the presence of a foreign body, respiratory failure may be accompanied by wheezing, convulsive breathing. The severity of dyspnea will depend on the level of bronchial obstruction.
Attention. OD with cough and symptoms of intoxication are observed in patients with malignant tumors or metastatic foci in the lungs.
Of the infectious causes of shortness of breath, pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy, tuberculosis, false croup syndrome (in young children) can be distinguished.
Shortness of breath in pathologies of the cardiovascular system
Pathological cardiac OD may accompany: 
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Breathing is a natural physiological act that occurs constantly and which most of us do not pay attention to, because the body itself regulates the depth and frequency of respiratory movements depending on the situation. The feeling that there is not enough air, perhaps, is familiar to everyone. It can appear after a quick jog, climbing stairs to a high floor, 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 onset a sharp difficulty in breathing can signal a serious pathology, often requiring immediate treatment. An acute lack of air when the airways are closed by a foreign body, pulmonary edema, an asthmatic attack can cost a life, so any respiratory disorder requires clarification of its cause and timely treatment.
In the process of breathing and providing tissues with oxygen, not only the respiratory system is involved, 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 the composition of the blood, hormonal status, activity of the nerve centers of the brain and many external causes - sports training, rich food, emotions.
The body successfully adjusts to fluctuations in the concentration of gases in the blood and tissues, increasing, if necessary, the frequency of respiratory movements. With a lack of oxygen or increased needs in it, breathing quickens. Acidosis, which accompanies a number of infectious diseases, fever, tumors, provokes an increase in breathing to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood and normalize its composition. These mechanisms turn on themselves, without our will and efforts, but in some cases they become pathological.
Any respiratory disorder, even if the cause seems obvious and harmless, requires examination and differentiated approach in treatment, therefore, when you feel that there is not enough air, it is better to immediately go to a doctor - a general practitioner, cardiologist, neurologist, psychotherapist.
Causes and types of respiratory failure
When it is difficult for a person to breathe and there is not enough air, they speak of shortness of breath. This sign 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 an unpleasant feeling of lack of air does not occur, since hypoxia is eliminated by an increased frequency of respiratory movements - in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, work in breathing apparatus, a sharp rise to a height.
Shortness of breath is inspiratory and 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 the disease, it is 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 increase in breathing occurs reflexively and passes after a short time. People with poor physical condition who have a sedentary "office" job experience shortness of breath in response to physical effort more often than those who regularly visit the gym, pool or just take daily walks. As the overall physical development, shortness of breath occurs less frequently.
Pathological shortness of breath can develop acutely or disturb constantly, even at rest, significantly aggravated by the slightest physical effort. A person suffocates when the airways are quickly closed by a foreign body, swelling of the tissues of the larynx, lungs and other serious conditions. When breathing in this case, the body does not receive the necessary even minimal amount of oxygen, and other severe disorders are added to shortness of breath.
The main pathological reasons for which it is difficult to breathe are:
- Diseases of the respiratory system - pulmonary dyspnea;
- Pathology of the heart and blood vessels - cardiac dyspnea;
- Violations of the nervous regulation of the act of breathing - shortness of breath of the central type;
- Violation of the gas composition of the blood - hematogenous shortness of breath.
cardiac causes
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 notes the appearance of edema on the legs, fatigue etc. Usually, patients whose breathing is disturbed against the background of changes in the heart have already been examined and are even taking appropriate drugs, but shortness of breath can not only persist, but in some cases is aggravated.
With a pathology of the heart, there is not enough air when inhaling, that is, inspiratory dyspnea. It accompanies, can persist even at rest in its severe stages, is aggravated at night when the patient lies.
The most common reasons:
- arrhythmias;
- and myocardial dystrophy;
- Defects - congenital lead to shortness of breath in childhood and even the neonatal period;
- Inflammatory processes in the myocardium, pericarditis;
- 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 tissues suffer from hypoxia, or congestion occurs in the lungs due to failure of the left ventricular myocardium ().
In addition to shortness of breath, often combined with dry excruciating, in persons with cardiac pathology, there are other characteristic complaints that somewhat facilitate diagnosis - pain in the region of the heart, "evening" edema, cyanosis of the skin, interruptions in the heart. It becomes more difficult to breathe in the supine 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
With 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 cervical veins swell, 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.
Children are shown diuretics (diacarb), and drugs of other groups are strictly dosed due to possible side effects and contraindications in childhood. Congenital malformations, in which the child begins to suffocate from the very first months of life, may require urgent surgical correction and even heart transplantation.
Pulmonary causes
Lung pathology is the second reason leading to difficulty in breathing, while both inhalation and exhalation are 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;
- in the branches of the pulmonary arteries.
Chronic inflammatory and sclerotic changes in the lung parenchyma greatly contribute to respiratory failure. They are aggravated by smoking, poor environmental conditions, recurrent infections of the respiratory system. Shortness of breath at first worries during physical exertion, gradually acquiring the character of a permanent one, as the disease passes into a more severe and irreversible stage of the course.
With pathology of the lungs, the gas composition of the blood is disturbed, there is a lack of oxygen, which, first of all, is not enough for 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 disturbed during an attack: it becomes very difficult to exhale, there is discomfort and even pain in the chest, arrhythmia is possible, sputum when coughing is separated with difficulty and is extremely scarce, the cervical veins swell. Patients with this shortness of breath sit with their hands on their knees - this position reduces venous return and stress on the heart, alleviating the condition. Most often it is difficult to breathe and there is not enough air for such patients at night or in the early morning hours.
In a severe asthma 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.
With respiratory disorders due to chronic pulmonary pathology, the appearance of the patient changes: the chest becomes barrel-shaped, the spaces between the ribs increase, the jugular 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 insufficiency, 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, overflowing with blood the venous part of the systemic circulation.
Not enough air also in case pneumonia, pneumothorax, hemothorax. With inflammation of the lung parenchyma, it becomes not only difficult to breathe, the temperature also rises, there are obvious signs of intoxication on the face, and coughing is accompanied by sputum production.
An extremely serious cause of sudden respiratory failure is considered to be hit in Airways foreign body. It can be a piece of food or a small part of a toy that the baby accidentally inhales while playing. The victim with a foreign body begins to suffocate, turns blue, quickly loses consciousness, 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, cough. It occurs more often than a person suffering from pathology of the vessels of the legs, heart, destructive processes in the pancreas. With thromboembolism, the condition can be extremely severe with an increase in asphyxia, blue skin, rapid cessation of breathing and heartbeat.
In children, shortness of breath is most often associated with the ingress of a foreign body during the game, pneumonia, swelling of the tissues of the larynx. Croup- edema with stenosis of the larynx, which can accompany a wide variety of inflammatory processes ranging from banal laryngitis to diphtheria. If the mother notices that the baby is breathing frequently, turns pale or blue, shows obvious anxiety or breathing is completely interrupted, then you should immediately seek help. Severe respiratory disorders in children are fraught with asphyxia and death.
In some cases, the cause of severe shortness of breath is allergy and Quincke's edema, which are also accompanied by stenosis of the lumen of the larynx. The cause may be a food allergen, wasp sting, inhalation of plant pollen, medicinal product. In these cases, both the child and the adult require emergency medical care to stop allergic reaction, and in case of asphyxia, a tracheostomy and artificial ventilation of the lungs may be required.
Treatment of pulmonary dyspnea should be differentiated. If the reason for everything is a foreign body, then it must be removed as soon as possible, with allergic edema, the child and adult are shown the introduction of antihistamines, glucocorticoid hormones, adrenaline. In case of asphyxia, a tracheo- or conicotomy is performed.
In bronchial asthma, treatment is multistage, including beta-agonists (salbutamol) in sprays, anticholinergics (ipratropium bromide), methylxanthines (eufillin), glucocorticosteroids (triamcinolone, prednisolone).
Acute and chronic inflammatory processes require antibacterial and detoxification therapy, and compression of the lungs with pneumo- or hydrothorax, impaired airway patency 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 brain damage, 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 the brain tissue - trauma, neoplasm, stroke, edema, encephalitis, etc.
Respiratory function disorders in brain pathology are very diverse: it is possible both to slow down breathing and its increase, the appearance of different types abnormal breathing. Many patients with severe brain pathology are on artificial lung ventilation, as they simply cannot breathe on their own.
The toxic effect of the waste products of microbes, fever leads to an increase in hypoxia and acidification of the internal environment of the body, which causes shortness of breath - the patient breathes often and noisily. Thus, the body seeks 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 the activity of the brain and peripheral nervous system - 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 intercostal neuralgia, the patient feels severe pain in half of the chest, aggravated by movement and inspiration, especially impressionable patients may panic, breathe quickly and shallowly. With osteochondrosis, it is difficult to inhale, and constant pain in the spine can provoke chronic shortness of breath, which can be difficult to distinguish from shortness of breath in pulmonary or cardiac pathologies.
Treatment of breathing difficulties in diseases of the musculoskeletal system includes exercise therapy, physiotherapy, massage, drug support in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics.
Many expectant mothers complain that as the pregnancy progresses, it becomes more difficult for them to breathe. This symptom may well fit into the norm, 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 can be anemia, thromboembolic syndrome, progression of heart failure with a defect in a woman, etc.
One of the most dangerous reasons why a woman can begin to choke during pregnancy is pulmonary embolism. This condition poses a threat to life, accompanied by a sharp increase in breathing, which becomes noisy and ineffective. Possible asphyxia and death without emergency care.
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 is difficult to isolate the main pathogenic factor. Patients who find it difficult to breathe need a thorough examination, and if the patient is suffocating, urgent qualified help is needed.
A. Olesya Valerievna, candidate of medical sciences, teacher of a medical university
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Everyone is familiar with shortness of breath in one way or another: after active exercise or with strong emotions, the depth and frequency of breathing change, but after the end of the external factor, breathing returns to normal and a healthy person again ceases to notice it. This condition is called physiological shortness of breath and does not require the attention of a doctor. You can talk about shortness of breath as a pathology when it begins to cause discomfort. This is an acute or chronic difficulty in breathing that occurs with little exertion or at rest.
People can describe this condition in different ways: as a feeling of lack of air, a feeling of pressure in the chest, a feeling that the air does not fill the lungs completely. In our time, shortness of breath has become one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor.
Most researchers associate the mechanism of shortness of breath with an increase in the activity of the respiratory center and the work of the respiratory muscles in an enhanced mode. In order to understand the causes of this condition, let's first talk about the variety of manifestations of shortness of breath.
Classification
In clinical practice, shortness of breath is divided into types according to the following characteristics:
To assess the severity of shortness of breath, the so-called MRC scale is used.
| Degree | Manifestation | Symptom |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No | difficulty breathing occurs only with significant physical exertion |
| 1 | light | occurs when you need to hurry or when climbing a slight elevation |
| 2 | average | a person is forced to walk more slowly than other people of his age, or to stop walking at his own pace. |
| 3 | heavy | a person is forced to stop every 100 meters or a few minutes after the start of walking |
| 4 | very heavy | a person cannot leave the house due to shortness of breath, it occurs even when dressing and undressing |
Most often, a correlation can be made between the severity of shortness of breath and the severity of changes in the body. Let us consider in more detail why shortness of breath appears.
To do this, we highlight the main groups of diseases with which it is associated.
- psychosomatic states.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Various pathologies of the respiratory system.
- Diseases of other organs and systems (anemia, obesity, helminthiases, anaphylaxis, head injuries).
Psychosomatic states
Any stress that occurs will necessarily change the frequency and depth of breathing. This is an evolutionary mechanism to provide the body with increased oxygen when faced with danger. V modern world there are not so many dangers as such, but the reactions to stress remain the same, regardless of whether the threat actually exists, or the person is simply excited.
Psychosomatic shortness of breath can appear with prolonged stress, the impossibility of free expression of negative emotions. When contacting a doctor, such a patient most often receives the characteristic of a "simulant", although subjectively he really feels bad.
Shortness of breath is the main complaint in 76% of cases of this type of disorder. The background condition for it is usually a long-term decrease in mood, anxiety, fear of death or serious illness. Most often, psychosomatic shortness of breath occurs at the same time of day: in the evening with difficulty falling asleep, at night during insomnia, accompanied by anxious and depressive thoughts, in the morning upon awakening. There are also frequent seasonal fluctuations in the severity of the condition in accordance with seasonal changes in mood.
Psychogenic shortness of breath is characterized by a feeling of incomplete inspiration, pressure in the chest, a feeling of lack of air.
With objective observation, breathing looks superficial, non-rhythmic, often accompanied by extraneous sounds, “oohs”, groans, and a sonorous exhalation through lips folded into a tube. At the same time, the person himself is paradoxically active - he does not remain motionless, trying to save strength and oxygen, but rushes about, waving his arms, throwing open the windows, sometimes even runs out into the street in search of fresh air.
Often the attack is accompanied by fear of death, suffocation. It can be distinguished from physiological pathology by the active behavior of the patient, the absence of wheezing in the lungs and objective signs of insufficient oxygen in the blood. Also, shortness of breath in psychosomatic diseases is often accompanied by lability of the pulse and blood pressure, profuse sweating, and trembling.
It is important to note that, despite the absence of physiological causes, a person who develops psychosomatic shortness of breath is not mentally ill, does not “pretend”, but really feels bad. In this case, it is recommended to consult a specialist and prescribe, first of all, means that normalize the neuropsychic state.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system
This is one of the main causes of persistent shortness of breath in the elderly. The pathogenesis of shortness of breath in diseases of the cardiovascular system is associated with impaired function of the left ventricle, while increasing pressure in the left atrium and then in the pulmonary capillaries.
Stagnation of blood in the vascular bed of the lungs leads to irritation of the baro- and volumic receptors (responding to an increase in pressure and volume) and reflex stimulation of the respiratory center.
In addition, an increase in pressure in the capillaries of the lungs leads to leakage of fluid into the intercellular space, which compresses the small airways, making it difficult for air to pass through them, and reduces the elasticity of the lungs. Together, this leads to the fact that shortness of breath occurs. With a long course of the disease, the walls of the vessels thicken, fibrous tissue develops around them, which further reduces the elasticity of the lung tissue. In severe cases of the disease, due to congestion, congestive pleurisy or hydrothorax may develop, aggravating the patient's condition.
Cardiac dyspnea usually worsens when lying down. This increases the intrathoracic blood volume, which is accompanied by an increase in venous and capillary pressure, disrupting gas exchange between the alveoli and capillaries. In addition, the level of standing of the diaphragm increases, reducing the residual capacity of the lungs.
Shortness of breath of cardiac origin usually develops slowly, at first it is perceived as a feeling of suffocation during high physical exertion, but over time, the lack of air begins to manifest itself with less and less effort, up to the appearance of shortness of breath at rest.
As a rule, constant shortness of breath develops for a long time. In neglected states, the so-called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea may appear. This is usually an acute attack of suffocation that develops during sleep, often in the morning and forces the person to wake up and take a sitting position with their legs down (orthopnea).
Left ventricular failure and shortness of breath can develop with a long course of hypertension. A hypertensive crisis can lead to the development of acute short-term right ventricular failure: in this case, shortness of breath occurs at the peak of pressure and lasts no more than 15-20 minutes.
Acute dyspnea with orthopnea often occurs against the background of attacks of paroxysmal tachycardia, the severity of the condition depends on the heart rate. In relatively healthy weeks, an attack of tachycardia up to 180 beats per minute can last for a week without any worsening of the condition, while in elderly people, severe shortness of breath develops at a much lower heart rate and is accompanied by dizziness, visual impairment, pain in the heart.
In any case, the sudden onset of shortness of breath against the background of chronic cardiovascular pathology, especially if it is accompanied by pain behind the sternum, in the left arm, left shoulder blade, profuse sweating, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system
The reason for the development of shortness of breath in diseases of the respiratory system may be an increase in resistance to air flow (obstructive disorders), a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs and chest, a violation of alveolar-capillary permeability, a reduction (decrease) in pulmonary blood flow.
Just like with cardiovascular pathology, the sudden onset of shortness of breath is a reason for urgent medical attention.
Causes of obstructive disorders:
Shortness of breath in obstructive disorders is usually manifested by difficult exhalation (expiratory), accompanied by a cough that does not bring relief. Viscous, difficult to separate sputum usually indicates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: with bronchial asthma, the sputum is mucous, transparent, with chronic bronchitis - purulent. In these cases, after coughing up sputum, a short-term relief of the condition is possible.
In an objective study, it is noted that the exhalation is lengthened in comparison with inhalation, the swelling of the jugular veins during exhalation and their subsidence during inhalation, wheezing, often audible at a distance, of a whistling character.
A decrease in the elasticity of the lung tissue and a decrease in the respiratory surface of the lungs develops with:
- Pneumonia, alveolitis.
- Pleurisy, pleural effusion - the appearance in the pleural cavity of fluid that compresses the lungs.
- Pneumothorax is the appearance of air in the pleural cavity, which limits the movement of the lungs. Possible as when exposed external factors, such as injuries and lung diseases: tuberculosis, abscess, bullous emphysema, pneumocystis pneumonia, oncological pathology.
With these pathologies, shortness of breath is more often of the inspiratory type (difficulty inhaling). Breathing becomes frequent and shallow, chest movements are limited, often this condition is accompanied by diffuse cyanosis.
Violation of alveolar-capillary permeability is possible with:
- Chronic lung diseases (sarcoidosis, idiopathic syndrome).
- Toxic pulmonary edema.
In these cases, the clinical picture is usually due to the course of the underlying disease.
Separately, it should be noted cases associated with a reduction in pulmonary blood flow, which develops with embolism of the branches of the pulmonary artery.
This life-threatening condition often develops in elderly people who are on bed rest, patients with thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities and pelvic veins.
In cases of parietal thrombosis, shortness of breath may develop within a few days. But more often, a detached blood clot blocks one of the branches of the pulmonary artery - then shortness of breath appears acutely, accompanied by an almost instantaneous development of cyanosis - the skin and mucous membranes turn blue.
Cold sweat appears, limbs become cold. The pain syndrome is not clearly expressed and can manifest itself in different parts of the chest, depending on the position of the thrombus. Pulmonary embolism requires emergency treatment. Fortunately, this is not the most common cause of shortness of breath.
Diseases of other organs
Breathing is a complex act, carried out as a result of the coordinated work of many organs and systems. Shortness of breath can occur with a violation at any level, it would seem, not directly related to the lungs and heart.
A change in the frequency and rhythm of breathing can occur with head injuries, anaphylactic shock. Shortness of breath also often develops in case of poisoning with salicylates, ethylene glycol, methyl alcohol, carbon monoxide.
If we talk about less formidable conditions, shortness of breath can be one of the signs of anemia. When the hemoglobin content in the blood is insufficient to ensure the transport of oxygen in the amount necessary to meet all the needs of the body, the respiratory center automatically increases the frequency and depth of breathing.
Anemia is usually accompanied by complaints of weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, impaired memory and performance. The occurrence of shortness of breath can provoke appeared helminthiasis, such as acute opisthorchiasis or ascariasis during the migration of helminth larvae through the circulatory system.
This kind of shortness of breath is often accompanied by fever and an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood. Shortness of breath accompanies thyrotoxicosis: the reasons are that all metabolic processes in the body are accelerated, as a result of which it experiences increased need in oxygen.
On the other hand, an excess of thyroid hormones in the blood leads to an increase in heart rate, a decrease in cardiac output, and the body begins to experience oxygen starvation.
Obese people constantly experience increased stress on all organs and systems. At the same time, an increased amount of adipose tissue limits the normal movement of the ribs, excess fat in the abdominal cavity (in the region of the greater omentum and mesentery of the intestine) increases the volume of the contents of the abdominal cavity and reduces the amplitude of movement of the diaphragm. Thus, less air enters the lungs, causing shortness of breath.
Metabolic syndrome often causes shortness of breath: both visceral obesity, in which fat is mostly located on the abdomen, and hypertension associated with increased activity of the sympathoadrenal system play a role. Similarly, there is shortness of breath with flatulence or shortness of breath after eating - an increased volume of the stomach and intestines limits the normal movement of the diaphragm.
In addition, shortness of breath after eating can lead to too rapid absorption of food, during which air is swallowed. As an additional factor, the redistribution of blood flow in favor of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is important, which can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to other organs and systems.
Another cause of shortness of breath after eating can be GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not perform its functions due to reduced tone and the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus.
This condition is accompanied by sour belching, possibly retrosternal pain and shortness of breath after eating, especially when lying down.
Shortness of breath in the elderly is common. The causes of shortness of breath can be both relatively harmless - overeating, flatulence - and formidable diseases that threaten life. You can talk about the treatment of shortness of breath only knowing the diagnosis. To do this, it is necessary to understand at what time of the day shortness of breath appears, whether it is associated with physical activity, which causes great difficulties - inhalation or exhalation, what concomitant changes occur in the body, and convey this information to the doctor. Properly selected treatment will alleviate the condition and improve the quality of life with shortness of breath.
