Shortness of breath and chest pains can have many causes, some acute and some chronic. Most of the time, these symptoms are caused by lung diseases or abnormal blood flow due to problems with the heart. Although the underlying cause of shortness of breath and chest pains may not be serious, these are troublesome symptoms that should not be ignored.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that is most often caused by an infection. Normally, the body's immune system protects the lungs against infection, but occasionally, infectious organisms travel into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can range in severity from minor to life-threatening depending on the organism that causes the infection, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of pneumonia include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, fever, sweating, chills, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. Bacterial and fungal pneumonias can be successfully treated with antibiotics or antifungals, respectively, whereas medications are ineffective for viral pneumonia, which goes away on its own with fluid and rest.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a circulatory system disorder in which plaque accumulates on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. The coronary arteries are responsible for bringing blood to the heart from the lungs. When plaque accumulates on the arterial walls, it narrows the diameter of the blood vessels and hinders proper blood flow. Coronary artery disease develops as a result of damage to the blood vessels caused by smoking, high cholesterol and fat in the blood; high blood pressure; and uncontrolled diabetes. The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease include chest pain that feels like pressure or squeezing and shortness of breath. Eventually, pain may radiate to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw and back, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Treatment for coronary artery disease consists of medications, lifestyle changes and possible surgery to open up the affected arteries.
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart is completely blocked, which prevents oxygen from getting to the heart. Most heart attacks are a result of a blood clot that has completely blocked one of the coronary arteries. In rare cases, a heart attack occurs because of significant emotional or physical stress. A major indicator of a heart attack is chest pain that may radiate to the arm, jaw, teeth and neck, according to MedlinePlus. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, sweating, anxiety, cough and excessive sweating. A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate hospitalization.
