Shortness of breath
If you have ever felt you could not breathe in enough air, you also have a condition known medically as dyspnea or shortness of breath. Dyspnea or Shortness of breath can be a symptom of health problems, that are related to heart or lung disease. But you can also feel temporary dyspnea after intense workout.
Always you should describe dyspnea with grading.
The New York Heart Association and-functional classification applied to dyspnea
Grade 1 No breathlessness.
2th Grade Breathlessness on severe exertion.
Grade 3 Breathlessness on mild exertion.
4th Grade Breathlessness at rest.
Types
Are Such as;
Orthopnea
Orthopnea is the sensation of shortness of breath that start when you are in the recumbent position, relieved by sitting or standing.
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
PND is a sensation of dyspnea that start when the patient awakes, after 1 or 2 hours of sleep, and is usually relieved in the upright position.
Trepopnea
It is a sensation of dyspnea that start when you are in one lateral decubitus position as opposed to the other.
Platypnea
Platypnea is a sensation of dyspnea that start when you are in the upright position and is relieved with recumbency.
Symptoms
The main symptom of shortness of breath is labored breathing. Dyspnea last for a minute or two after intense activity. Or it could be a chronic problem. You also have the sensation of just not getting quite enough air into lungs all the time. In serious cases, you may feel you are suffocating. Bouts of dyspnea also bring on chest tightness.
Dyspnea that occurs after strenuous exercise is understandable. However, soon check your doctor if any of the following occurs:
- shallow breathing
- heart palpitations
- shortness of breath after exertion or due to a medical condition.
- feeling smothered or suffocated as a result of breathing difficulties.
- Also labored breathing.
- tightness in the chest.
- rapid, shallow breathing.
- heart palpitations.
- wheezing.
- coughing.
Causes
Causes of shortness of breath are such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Asthma
- A blood clot in your lungs
- Broken ribs
- Excess fluid around your heart
- Choking
- A collapsed lung
- Heart attacks
- A low red blood cell count
- Heart failure
- Heart rhythm problems
- Also Pneumonia and other respiratory infections
- Pregnancy
- A severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis
- Sudden blood loss
- Fluid around the lungs
Some other causes are:
- Asthma
- Being out of shape
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and pneumonia
- Sarcoidosis
- Heart disease, including congestive heart failure
- Inflammation of the tissue around the heart
- pulmonary hypertension
- Obesity
- Scarring of the lungs
- Stiff, thick, or swollen heart muscle, aka cardiomyopathy
Prevention
Following preventive measures, you should follow:
- Pursed-lip breathing
- Sitting forward
- Sitting forward supported by a table
- Standing with supported back
- Standing with supported arms
- Sleeping in a relaxed position
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Using a fan
- Drinking coffee
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes include:
- quitting smoking and avoiding tobacco smoke
- avoiding exposure to pollutants, allergens, and environmental toxins
- losing weight if you have obesity or overweight
- avoiding exertion at high elevations
- staying healthy by eating well,
- getting enough sleep,
- following the treatment plan for any underlying illness such as asthma, COPD, or bronchitis
Physiotherapy Management
Both acute or chronic type of Dyspnea with acute occurring during 3 weeks and chronic more than 4 up to 8 weeks.
Following Exercises, you should adopt to get rid of Dyspnea:
- Aerobic
- walking
- Cycling
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Resistance exercise training
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