Dyspnoea: Causes, Types, and Treatments

Types of Dyspnoea

Dyspnoea can be categorised into four main types based on timing and intensity:

• Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnoea (PND) –

Shortness of breath happens 1 or 2 hours after sleeping.

• Sighing Dyspnoea –

An individual sighs many times after taking deep breaths to get rid of chest tightness

• Acute Dyspnoea –

This happens suddenly and goes away within a short time; anxiety, stress, intense exercise schedules, allergies, and common cold infections can commonly cause acute dyspnoea. In severe cases, heart attacks, blood clotting, and narrowing of the airway passage can also cause acute dyspnoea.

• Chronic Dyspnoea –

This can persist for a long time and keep coming back for various reasons. Existing heart and lung ailments, asthma, COPD, and a sedentary lifestyle can cause chronic dyspnoea.

Symptoms of Dyspnoea

Shortness of breath can feel different from person to person and depending on what’s causing it. Sometime, it may come with other symptoms, such as:

• Tightness in the chest

• Difficulty breathing

• Laborious breathing, i.e., working very hard to inhale and exhale deeply

• Rapid breaths, known as tachypnoea

• Rapid heartbeats or palpitations

• Wheezing (i.e., struggling and noisy breathing, leading to a condition known as stridor)

• Frequent and severe bouts of coughing

Causes of Dyspnoea

The main shortness of breath causes are the following:

• Lung ailments, which include

◦ Asthma

◦ Allergies

◦ Respiratory tract ailments

◦ Pneumonia

◦ Lung cancers

◦ Fluid collection in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)

◦ Tuberculosis

◦ Blood clotting

◦ Blood pressure is high in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)

◦ Choking sensation in the airways

◦ Lung inflammations

• Heart ailments, which include

◦ Failure of the heart

◦ Heart muscle ailments (cardiomyopathy)

◦ Heart rhythm being irregular (arrhythmia)

◦ Heart inflammations like myocarditis and pericarditis

• Other causes, which include

◦ Anxiety

◦ Rigorous physical exercises

◦ Injuries like broken ribs

◦ Medications like statins and beta-blockers

◦ Being overweight or obese (BMI of over 30)

◦ Sedentary lifestyle

◦ Body temperature is very cold/hot

◦ Sleep apnoea

Risk Factors of Dyspnoea

The following people are more prone to dyspnoea disease than others:

• Individuals who are coping with anaemia

• People with anxiety/stress

• Heavy smokers

• People with existing cardiac and pulmonary issues

• People with infections in the respiratory system

• People with a Body Mass Index of over 30

Diagnosis of Dyspnoea

Doctors opt for the following diagnostic procedures to confirm if you have dyspnoea disease:

• Physical assessment of your airway passage to detect the ailment’s severity

• Checking existing medical history

• Pulse oximetry

• Spirometry (to check the quality of overall functionality of the lungs)

• Blood Tests (CBC and other allergies)

• Imaging tests, including X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and more

• Assessment through cardiopulmonary exercises

Treatment of Dyspnoea

The treatment options usually focussed on addressing the underlying cause of dyspnoea.

• Making healthy changes to diet and lifestyle habits –

In mild dyspnoea cases, doctors advise simple diet and lifestyle changes to strengthen the heart and lungs so that the pressure on these vital organs is reduced.

• Breathing exercises –

To help reduce the tightness in the chest and clear the airway passage

• Medicines –

Doctors prescribe medications (mostly bronchodilators) to treat asthma, COPD, and more

• Oxygen Therapy –

Additional supply of oxygen provided

• Other Treatment Modes –

Pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation procedures

Prevention of Dyspnoea

Here are some strategies:

1. Avoid Triggers such as allergens, smoke, and pollutants.

2. Manage chronic conditions like asthma, COPD, or heart disease with medications and regular check-ups.

3. Stay active by engaging in regular exercising to improve lung function and endurance.

4. Maintain a healthy weight as it can reduce the strain on the lungs and heart.

5. Practice breathing techniques such as pursed-lip breathing as it can help improve breath control.

6. Stay hydrated as it can help keep mucus thin and easier to expel.

FAQs

1. Can dyspnoea become a life-threatening ailment?

No, in most cases, dyspnoea is not life-threatening, but you meek seek timely medical intervention. However, in some rare cases, dyspnoea could be due to an emergency like a heart attack, lung cancer, etc. Get immediate medical help in such situations.

2. Can dyspnoea be cured completely?

Yes, dyspnoea can be cured completely, provided you identify the cause of the condition. If the cause is unidentified, you may experience recurring spells of shortness of breath.