lung disease & respiratory health center

What Are Signs of Breathing Problems?

Reviewed on 2/23/2022
Elder man sitting in a rocking chair and clutching his chest
Signs of breathing problems (asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, heart problems, obesity/deconditioning) can include symptoms like shortness of breath, pain when breathing, wheezing, rapid and shallow breathing, feeling as if you cannot inhale deeply/properly, increased effort to breathe, heavy breathing, “air hunger,” and the feeling of suffocation.

Breathing problems may be characterized by shortness of breath, difficulty getting a breath in, or pain when breathing, and it can be a sign of a serious medical condition.

If you have breathing problems, it’s important to see a doctor to diagnose the cause and receive proper treatment. Some causes of breathing problems can be life-threatening. 

Signs of breathing problems include:

  • Shortness of breath 
  • Pain when breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Rapid, shallow breathing 
  • Feeling as if you cannot inhale deeply/properly
  • Increased effort to breathe
  • Heavy breathing
  • “Air hunger”
  • Feeling of suffocation

Symptoms that may accompany breathing problems include:

  • Cough
  • Stuffy nose
  • Chest pain/tightness
  • Sputum production
  • Sweating
  • Blue lips or nails
  • Pale skin
  • Swelling of extremities 
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon (cool blue extremities)
  • Joint swelling
  • Muscle weakness 

When It's an Emergency

When it’s hard to breathe, see a doctor immediately or call 911 if you have breathing problems and: 

  • Symptoms have a sudden onset
  • Pain or pressure in the chest
  • Fever
  • Swelling in your feet and ankles
  • Trouble breathing when you lie flat
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Wheezing
  • Is associated with itching, hives, or facial/lip swelling
  • Feeling like your throat is swollen
  • Shortness of breath becomes more severe
  • Palpitations
  • Lightheadedness or feeling faint
  • Is accompanied by severe confusion, chest or jaw pain, or pain down your arm

What Causes Breathing Problems?

Common causes of chronic breathing problems include:

Causes of breathing problems that are medical emergencies include:

How Are Breathing Problems Diagnosed?

It is important to diagnose the underlying cause of breathing problems to determine treatment. In addition to a physical examination, tests may include: 

  • Chest X-ray
  • Ultrasound 
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) 
  • Blood tests
  • Carbon dioxide monitoring 
  • Chest computerized tomography scan (CT) 
  • Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan
  • Negative inspiratory force (NIF) 
  • Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan of the chest 
  • Peak flow and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) 

What Is the Treatment for Breathing Problems?

Treatment for acute breathing problems in an emergency setting usually includes:

  • Oxygen 
  • Determining if the patient needs emergency airway management and ventilatory support
  • Establishing the most likely causes of the difficulty breathing and initiating treatment

Treatment for chronic breathing problems varies widely depending on the cause. For example:

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Reviewed on 2/23/2022
References
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-patient-with-dyspnea?search=difficulty%20breathing&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H17

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-of-the-adult-with-dyspnea-in-the-emergency-department?search=difficulty%20breathing&topicRef=1436&source=see_link

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/shortness-of-breath.html