| When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable | | | | Shortness of breath can be caused by many things, |
| for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You | | | | including the following: |
| may feel as if you're not getting enough air. | | | | Asthma |
| Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy | | | | Other lung diseases, including emphysema (say: |
| nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can | | | | "em-fa-see-ma"), a lung disease that is caused by |
| also be a sign of a serious disease. | | | | smoking |
| Difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, | | | | Heart failure that causes fluid to collect in the lungs |
| breathlessness or dyspnea can have various causes. | | | | Panic attacks |
| Episodes of shortness of breath can occur during high | | | | Symptoms Of Breathing Problems |
| levels of activity, like exhaustive exertion, or as a result | | | | 1. Sudden onset of severe shortness of breath: This |
| of environmental conditions such as high altitude or | | | | could be a flare-up of chronic lung disease like COPD, |
| very warm or cold temperatures. Other than these | | | | or it might mean an infection such as pneumonia or |
| extreme conditions, shortness of breath is commonly a | | | | acute bronchitis or the onset of heart failure. |
| sign of a medical problem. | | | | 2. Sudden chest pain: Often sudden chest pain can |
| Most children who take part in baby swimming show | | | | indicate a heart problem, but it can also signal a lung |
| no increased incidence of lower respiratory tract | | | | problem, such as a collapsed lung or blood clot in the |
| infections, ear inflammation (otitis media) or tightness | | | | lung. |
| and wheezing in the chest. Between 6-18 months the | | | | Prevention |
| incidence of lower respiratory tract infections and otitis | | | | * Wear a medical alert tag if you have a pre-existing |
| media were 13 percent and 30 percent respectively, | | | | breathing condition, such as asthma. |
| whilst the proportion of children who experienced | | | | * If you have a history of severe allergic reactions, |
| tightness or wheezing in the chest was 40 percent. | | | | carry an epinephrine pen and wear a medical alert tag. |
| Causes of Breathing Problem | | | | Your doctor will teach you how to use the epi pen. |
| Breathing problems are common symptoms caused | | | | * If you have asthma or allergies, eliminate household |
| by many conditions, iCOPD (chronic obstructive | | | | allergy triggers like dust mites and mold. |
| pulmonary disease) a conditions involving bronchitis and | | | | What might breathing problems indicate in a newborn? |
| emphysema.ncluding asthma, chronic obstructive | | | | Babies breathe much faster than older children and |
| pulmonary disease (COPD), other lung diseases and | | | | adults. A newborn's normal breathing rate is about 40 |
| heart disease. Most people who have breathing | | | | times each minute. This may slow to 20 to 40 times |
| problems are aware of the condition, such as when | | | | per minute when the baby is sleeping. The pattern of |
| children struggle to catch their breath during an asthma | | | | breathing in a baby may also be different. A baby may |
| attack or ex-smokers find themselves easily winded | | | | breathe fast several times, then have a brief rest for |
| due to emphysema. | | | | less than 10 seconds, than breathe again. |