We do not think about breathing as it is something we do every second. We just realize it when it is not easy. It is frightening when you have shortness of breath, a tight feeling in the chest, wheezing, or the feeling that you can do nothing but get more air.
A lot of individuals are quick to believe that it is a simple case of nervousness, exhaustion, or a mild illness. Sometimes that is true. In other instances, having problems with breathing may be an indicator of various other adverse things occurring in the body.
Breathing difficulties occur when lungs, heart, blood, brain or even muscles are not functioning as desired. The lungs introduce oxygen to the body and the heart is used to pump the oxygenated blood to all organs. In case of malfunctioning in any part of this system one may experience difficulty in breathing.
This is the reason why breathing issues must never be overlooked particularly when they are new, intense or worsening.
Asthma is one of the frequent causes of difficulty in breathing. Asthma occurs when the airways are swollen and constricted hence causing difficulty in the passage of air in and out. It has been documented that millions of people in the world are affected by asthma which could be caused by dust, smoke, cold air, exercise, or infection.
Though in most cases asthma is manageable, asthma that is not treated or managed well may turn out to be life threatening. Continual wheezing, night cough and frequent dyspnea are symptoms, which require medical intervention.
Heart disease is another potential cause. Not so many know that heart issues may manifest themselves in the form of breathing difficulties. The heart of a person becomes weak or damaged and is unable to pump the blood efficiently.
This may result in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs resulting to shortness of breath particularly when lying down or during light exercises. Research on heart failure reveals that among the first and most frequent symptoms include breathlessness. In other instances, shortness of breath may occur abruptly and it is an indicator of a heart attack and must be attended to.
Breathing difficulties may also indicate lung infections, e.g. pneumonia or tuberculosis. Pneumonia leads to a filling of the air sacs in the lungs with fluid or pus thus making breathing painful and very difficult.
Pneumonia may develop rapidly based on scientific research particularly in children, the elderly and individuals with weak immune systems. They should not dismiss such symptoms as fever, chest pain, fast breathing and shortness of breath.
In some cases, it is a problem with blood. Anemia is a condition that occurs when the body lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells and thus decreases the supply of oxygen to the body tissues. When this occurs, the body attempts to counter this by breathing at a faster pace.
I have encountered individuals who believed that they were merely fatigued, yet they were always out of breath, which was in fact, because they had low amounts of blood. The studies have verified that anemia is a common cause of shortness of breath, weakness, and dizziness.
Another life-threatening cause is blood clots in the lungs which is referred to as pulmonary embolism. It occurs when a clot usually a leg clot is carried to the lungs and it blocks the blood flow.
It may lead to impulsive dyspnea, chest pain, and tachycardia. Pulmonary embolism is described to be a medical emergency since medical studies explain that this condition is fatal when not attending to promptly.
Mental health can also be associated with the breathing problems, and this is anxiety and panic disorders. The breathing during a panic attack is quick and shallow which causes a person to experience dizziness and chest tightness.
Although breathing problems related to anxiety are a reality it is highly recommended in the research that the physical causes be first disproved. Being convinced that it is but anxiety may postpone the detection of severe disease.
The environmental factors are also contributing factors. Damage of the lungs occurs with time due to long term exposure to air pollution, cigarette smoke or exposure to harmful chemicals.
According to scientific evidence, smoking is one of the primal reasons of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that leads to the difficulty in breathing in the long term and is irreversible. The initial signs can be very mild and that is why they are mostly neglected by many people before the damage becomes deep.
When breathing difficulties are sudden, severe, frequent, and are still accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pains, fainting, fever, bluish lips, or leg swelling, it means worse. Medical assistance should be provided in such scenarios. In my opinion, one of the skills that a person should learn in regard to health is listening to your body.
To summarize, breathing difficulties do not necessarily harm. They may be symptomatic of lung disease, heart disorders, infections, or disorders of the blood, or other severe illnesses. There has always been evidence in science and medical research that early detection is a way of saving lives.
Being sensitive to breathing difficulties and prompt treatment help can save life-threatening complications and transform a straightforward treatment into an emergency. The breathing is life itself and any issue with it should be respected and taken care of.
