1. Check for Viral and Allergy Symptoms First
Your trouble breathing may manifest itself as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, nasal congestion or other symptoms. If mucus in the nose is making inhalation difficult, assess the additional warning signs. Sneezing and a fever of 100 to 102 degrees F may indicate a common cold. This should pass within a few days, with or without treatment.
A scratchy throat and watery eyes that accompany nasal congestion may indicate recurrent allergies, such as seasonal hay fever or animal dander sensitivity. While such allergies may cause sneezing, there should not be a rise in bodily temperature. Avoiding the allergy "trigger" and treating the symptoms with decongestant should control the condition, but you should check with your doctor for suggested ongoing allergy care.
2. Recurrent Difficulties Could Signal Asthma
If chest tightness and wheezing is added to allergy-type symptoms, you may have asthma. Shortness of breath, or insufficient inhalation, can be uncomfortable and scary and, in severe cases, life threatening. Allergy "attacks" may pass after about 30 minutes on their own, but repeated episodes are cause for a doctor's examination. Chronic cough and occasional wheezing are additional indicators that bronchial congestion is present and needs attention.
An extreme attack in which you can't get enough air into your lungs and feel lightheaded or disoriented may require a trip to the emergency room. If the episode doesn't pass or your skin begins to turn blue, call 911 and get to the hospital immediately.
3. Consider Your Risk for Long-Term Lung Damage
If you have treated allergies and asthma according to a physician's plan but still show symptoms, you may have an underlying lung condition. Chronic sore throat, cough, wheezing and chest tightness that do not respond to care may indicate a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, such as emphysema or even lung cancer. Long-term exposure to poor air quality--such as dust, chemicals or secondhand smoke--or habitual cigarette smoking can cause permanent lung damage.
Other bronchial conditions may be genetic. Only your doctor can determine whether recurrent breathing trouble is related to manageable asthma or another, more serious health issue. Don't ignore an annoying cough or persistent wheeze. Instead, let a physician evaluate these symptoms in light of your full medical history.
