Symptom: Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath: The feeling of being short of breath
Introduction: Dyspnea is the medical term for breathing difficulty or breathlessness. Related symptoms include wheezing and stridor (noisy breathing). Shortness of breath needs immediate professional medical diagnosis and treatment. It may indicate numerous severe medical conditions, although there are also various less serious causes of breathlessness.
Detailed cause information for symptom: Shortness of breath:
Medical articles on symptoms: These general medical articles may be of interest:
- Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
- Symptoms and Medical Malpractice
- Medical mistakes and their rates, causes and prevention
- Deaths and sudden death
Types of Shortness of breath: shortness of breath from exercise (81)
Shortness of breath type of: Breathing difficulties (158), Shortness of breath from exercise (81), Exercise symptoms (86)
Symptoms: symptom center, symptom groups, symptom descriptions
Possible causes of symptom: Shortness of breath: The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Shortness of breath as a symptom. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.
- Some possible causes of shortness of breath include:
- Exercise
- Exertion
- Poor physical condition
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Tension
- Smoking
- Depression
- High altitude location
- Hyperventilation
- High fever (see Fever)
- Wheezing - see also causes of wheezing
- Respiratory conditions causing shortness of breath include:
- Common cold
- Respiratory infection
- Lung infection
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Tuberculosis
- Chronic lung disease
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchiectasis
- Airway obstruction (see Respiratory symptoms)
- Trachea obstruction
- Foreign object in lung
- Respiratory tract obstruction
- Collapsed lung
- Pneumothorax
- Chest infection
- Viral respiratory infection
- Bacterial respiratory infection
- Fungal respiratory infection
- Tuberculosis
- Pleurisy
- Pneumothorax
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Primary pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary embolism
- Chemical fume inhalation
- Dust inhalation
- Reactive airway disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Occupational lung diseases
- Connective tissue diseases - if affecting the lungs
- Infiltrative pulmonary carcinomatosis
- See also causes of wheezing or stridor
- Various other lung conditions or respiratory conditions
- Other medical conditions causing shortness of breath include:
- Anemia - see also types of anemia and causes of anemia
- Botulism
- Lead poisoning
- Red blood cell disorder
- Cancer
- Hyperthyroidism
- Heart conditions causing shortness of breath include:
- Heart attack
- Myocardial infarct
- Heart disease
- Cardiac ischemia
- Heart failure
- Congestive heart failure
- Angina
- Arrhythmias
- Pericardial effusion
- Heart tamponade
- Heart valve disease
- Neurological and muscle disorders causing shortness of breath include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- ALS
- Myasthenia gravis
- Certain muscle disorders
- Certain nerve disorders
- Certain diaphragm disorders
- Some possible causes of slow onset, gradual, or chronic shortness of breath include:
- Anemia
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Heart failure
- Pregnancy
- Over-breathing
- COPD
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumoconiosis
- Chest infection
- Bronchiectasis
- Lung tumor
- Lung cancer
- Kyphosis
- Kyphoscoliosis
- Altitude sickness
- Fibrosing alveolitis
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Kidney failure
- Certain heart diseases
- Heart failure
- Arrythmias
- Recurrent pulmonary emboli
- Heart valve disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Occupational lung diseases
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Cirrhotic hydrothorax
- Chest wall disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Metabolic acidosis
- COPD
- Chest infection
- Parenchymatous lung disease
- Various other causes of shortness of breath as described here
- Some possible causes of sudden acute shortness of breath include:
- Asthma attack
- Asthma
- Heart attack
- Panic attack
- Anxiety attack
- Panic disorder
- Hyperventilation
- Bronchiolitis
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Heart attack
- Acute heart failure
- Acute bronchitis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Allergic alveolitis
- Respiratory foreign body
- Anaphylaxis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary edema
- Severe anemia
- Upper airway obstruction
- Vocal cord paralysis - causing upper airway obstruction
- Epiglottal edema
- Laryngeal edema
- Respiratory failure
- Other causes of breathlessness or shortness of breath
- Some causes of shortness of breath after exercise:
- Poor physical fitness
- Obesity
- Angina
- Respiratory disorders
- Asthma
- Bronchial asthma
- Heart disorders
- Heart failure
- Congestive heart failure
- Other causes of shortness of breath
- Early stages of other causes of shortness of breath
- Some causes of sleep-related shortness of breath:
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Certain sleeping disorders
- Some possible causes of shortness of breath changing with posture include:
- Trepopnea (see Breathing difficulties)
- Unilateral lung disorder
- Pleural effusion
- Proximal tracheobronchial obstruction
- Platypnea (see Breathing difficulties)
- Intracardial shunt
- Vascular lung shunt
- Parenchymal lung shunt
- Asthma
- See also causes of shortness of breath with exertion
- Certain medications
- See other causes of breathing difficulty
Medications or substances causing Shortness of breath: The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Shortness of breath as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Certain medications
- Amphetamines
- Rubbing alcohol
Conditions listing symptoms: Shortness of breath: The following list of conditions have 'Shortness of breath' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
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Conditions listing complications: Shortness of breath: The following list of conditions have 'Shortness of breath' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
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Last revised: Nov 20, 2003
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