Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties can be frightening. They may be temporary or related to a chronic condition. Simple things, such as wearing constrictive clothing or exercise, can cause shortness of breath, but there are also very serious conditions that can cause difficulty breathing. If you are having trouble breathing, have repeated episodes of breathing difficulty or your problem worsens, you should seek medical help.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is actually a collection of diseases that cause difficulty breathing. The two most common forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages which causes mucus production, coughing and difficulty breathing. Emphysema is a destruction of the alveoli and lung tissue (such as from smoking) and makes gas exchange difficult, leading to labored breathing. According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD is a leading cause of death and illness worldwide.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection and inflammation of the lungs and can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. The infection usually causes fluid buildup within the small air sacs of the lungs, making breathing difficult. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, people who are young, elderly or have compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to pneumonia and find the infection to be more severe in their cases.
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the air passages become inflamed and constricted, making breathing very labored. Asthma is generally caused by a hypersensitive immune system that recognizes common substances as foreign and dangerous, setting off an immune response and an asthma attack. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, there are 20 million asthma sufferers in America.
Lung Cancer
According to Merck, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Cancer can develop within the lung tissue itself or in nearby tissue and create tumors that make the lungs dysfunctional. A tumor can block airways and can lead to collapse of one of the lungs. Some cancers can produce fluids that build up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, which is called pleural effusion. Other symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, chest pain or coughing up blood.
Pulmonary Embolism
When a blood clot that has formed in another part of the body, such as in the vein of a leg, breaks free, it can travel to the lungs and block one of the arteries there. The lack of blood flow can cause permanent damage to the lung tissue that should be supplied with blood by the artery. According to The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, there are at least 100,000 cases of pulmonary embolism each year in the United States.
