Constant lack of air can be a sign of anxiety, heart and lung disease, or yet lack of physical fitness and muscle weakness. Shortness of breath is characterized by respiratory distress or discomfort, creating the sensation that the person can not inhale enough air.
Shortness of breath due to heart problems occurs when the heart can not pump the blood properly, as in cardiac insufficiency. In these cases, the blood does not come out completely from the heart, which becomes "swollen" and presses the blood vessels of the lung, causing an extravasation of fluid to the lung. Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), although it is not very common.
Diseases that affect lungs or the respiratory tract, like influenza, cold, bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, pulmonary emphysema and asthma make breathing difficult and can cause shortness of breath.
Lack of physical conditioning or muscle weakness also causes shortness of breath, since the person needs to make a greater effort than normal to perform the tasks.
Anxiety, anguish (feeling heavy in the chest) and panic syndrome are among the psychic causes of shortness of breath.
It is important to pay attention to some signs that may accompany shortness of breath as they may indicate more serious problems. The warning signs include: difficulty speaking, wheezing, neck strain to inhale, sleep interruption at night, fatigue when performing daily tasks, purple lips, coughing, wheezing, or chest pain.
You may also be interested in: Cough with shortness of breath, what can it be?
In the presence of these signs, the person should seek a general practitioner or family physician for a more thorough investigation of the cause of shortness of breath.
Learn more at: I feel a fast heart and shortness of breath, what can it be?
