SHORTNESS OF BREATH
When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.
Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find out the cause
Source: National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus 2008Shortness Of Breath – and Acid Reflux:
Question: Can acid reflux cause shortness of breath and chest tightening?
Answer: Shortness of breath, also know as "dyspnea" (disp-knee-ah), has many possible causes. Many people think dyspnea is caused by their heart or lungs, but acid reflux is a very common cause--one that is often overlooked in patients with no history of heart or lung problems. Symptoms of acid reflux include chronic cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and a burning sensation in the chest. The symptoms usually occur after meals or in the evening. They may also occur if the patient lies down soon after eating a meal. Other symptoms of acid reflux include a foul taste in the mouth and pain in the upper abdomen. Treatment typically involves acid-blocking medication and changes in behavior, like not lying down for at least 30 minutes after eating.
Shortness Of Breath – Common causes
It is possible that your symptoms of dyspnea are caused by acid reflux, but dyspnea has other common causes, including
- Congestive heart failure.
- Angina.
- Asthma.
- Emphysema.
- Infections (like pneumonia).
- Acid reflux.
- Anxiety.
- Panic disorders.
- Anemia.
- Obesity.
- Musculoskeletal problems (scoliosis, kyphosis).
