Shortness Of Breath

This article talks about shortness of breath or breathlessness, about causes and treatment.

What is Shortness of breath?

SoB is the sensation of not getting enough air with each respiration. It can be caused by various factors, including chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia, and COPD, which affect the breathing passages and lungs. Additionally, heart and blood vessel diseases can lead to shortness of breath. Furthermore, psychogenic causes, arising from emotional or mental stress, may also result in the sensation of air hunger without any organic issues detected.

A research study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre suggests that shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, can be the sole warning sign of heart disease in individuals without lung issues. Dyspnea can occur at rest or during physical activity and exercise, leading to rapid breathing and hyperventilation.

How does breathlessness manifest?

Shortness of breath may be accompanied by other symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and chest pressure. Wheezing, a whistle-like sound during exhalation, results from inflamed and narrowed airways due to respiratory infections or allergic reaction. Bronchospasm, where the muscles around the bronchial tubes tighten and constrict the airways, is common during wheezing. This is often caused by hyperventilation, leading to abnormal carbon dioxide levels in the blood and subsequent constriction of the bronchial muscles. It’s clear that shortness of breath, wheezing, and hyperventilation are interconnected. For individuals experiencing breathing difficulties due to airway or lung diseases, the following complementary approaches can help improve breathing:

• find your allergens and try to avoid them
•  use home salt therapy to clear airways and reduce inflammation, for at least 7-8 hours daily
•  use a sinus rinse nasal wash to clear pathogens and allergens from nasal passages
•  clean indoor air using high quality air filters
•  slow breathing techniques using abdomen muscles to regularize breathing to 14-18 breaths per minute
•  include Turmeric in your diet to help reduce using curcumin