Trouble Breathing: Symptoms

Trouble breathing is a reason to see a doctor right away. Here are symptoms to watch for:

• Struggling for each breath or short of breath
• Tight breathing so that you can barely speak
• Ribs are pulling in with each breath (called retractions)
• Breathing has become noisy (such as wheezing)
• Breathing is much faster than normal or there are long pauses in breathing (apnea attacks)
• Lips or face turn a blue color
• Breathing trouble gets worse fast
• Other symptoms, such as chest pain or coughing up blood.
• Your usual breathing treatment(s) are not working.

Trouble Breathing: Importance

• Trouble breathing is one of the most common reasons for getting admitted to the hospital.
• Many of these people need oxygen.
• Frail older people may get worse quickly.

Causes of Trouble Breathing

Trouble breathing comes from problems in the lower throat, voice box, windpipe, or lung airways. It can also be due to heart problems and other underlying conditions. Here are the common ones:

• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Suspect when there is a sudden onset of trouble breathing and widespread hives. Common causes are bee stings or food allergies such as peanuts. This can be life threatening and needs immediate treatment. Call 911.
• Asthma. Symptoms of an asthma attack are wheezing, a cough, and trouble breathing. If your asthma symptoms are severe or getting worse, go to ER.
• Bronchiolitis or RSV. A viral infection of the smallest airways in the lungs. Main symptoms are fast breathing and wheezing.
• COVID-19. Some patients develop breathing trouble with COVID-19 infection. This may or may not be severe.
• Cystic Fibrosis is a disease which causes severe damage to the lungs and other organs. Coughing and trouble breathing are main symptoms.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is from long-term inflammation of the airways which hampers airflow in and out of the lungs. The most common cause is smoking, but there are other causes. The problem gets worse slowly over time, but is treatable. Symptoms include cough, sputum and breathlessness.
• Epiglottitis (very serious) is a bacterial infection of the flap of tissue above the vocal cords. It normally covers the windpipe during swallowing. The main symptoms are severe sore throat, drooling, spitting and fever. It can shut off the airway. Call 911.
• Foreign Object in Airway. Suspect this when there is a sudden onset of coughing and choking.
• Influenza. Main symptoms are a fever with a runny nose, sore throat, and bad cough. The flu virus can also cause problems such as pneumonia. Vaccine may prevent the disease.
• Pneumonia (serious) is a more serious infection of the lower parts of the airway (in the lung). It can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Symptoms include cough with brown or bloody mucus, breathlessness, chest pain and fever. Antibiotics may be needed to treat it.
• Whooping Cough is a bacterial infection of the airway. Main symptoms are long coughing spells and choking. Very serious in infants. Can be prevented by vaccine.
• Heart Failure (serious) occurs when the heart is not pumping as well as it should. Fluid can build up on the lungs and other parts of the body. The main symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling and tiredness. Sudden shortness of breath and a cough with frothy pink mucus can also occur, often at night.
• Pulmonary Embolus (serious) occurs when a clot from somewhere in the body (often the legs) travels around with the blood flow and is trapped in the lungs. A large clot can be life threatening. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and coughing up blood.
• Lung Cancer (serious) is one of the main causes of death from cancer worldwide. People who smoke are at most risk. People who have worked in smoke-filled places (clubs and bars) are also at risk. Cough is a common symptom. If you have a new cough that does not go away within 3 weeks or if you are coughing up blood, see your doctor.
• Pneumothorax is a lung can collapse from a chest injury, lung problems or for no clear reason. Oxygen can't get into the collapsed part of the lung and the person has trouble breathing. Severity depends on how much of the lung has collapsed. It may need treatment in hospital to reinflate the lung. This can be life threatening and the breathing trouble gets worse very fast.

When to Call for Breathing Trouble

Care Advice While Waiting to See Doctor

What You Should Know about Trouble Breathing:

• Breathing trouble that is getting worse fast, or not responding to usual treatment, needs to be seen now.
• If you have to work hard to breathe, you can become exhausted. This can be life threatening. You should Call 911 right away.
• The causes of breathing trouble are often serious.
• You may need oxygen.
• Here is some care advice that may help until you talk with your doctor.

Coughing Fits or Spells:

• Breathe warm mist (such as with shower running in a closed bathroom).
• Reason: relax the airway and loosen up any phlegm.
• Caution: avoid breathing in steam. Don't use boiling water. There is a risk of scalding.

Nasal Saline to Open a Blocked Nose:

• Use saline (salt water) nose drops or spray to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of bottled water or clean tap water.
• Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.

Avoid Tobacco Smoke:

• Smoke makes coughing and trouble breathing much worse.

Avoid Dust and Allergens:

• Avoid things you are allergic to.
• Stay indoors on days when the pollen count is high.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.

Medicines:

• If your doctor has prescribed meds for your breathing problems, take them as instructed.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Ribs start pulling in with each breath (retractions)
• Wheezing becomes loud or tight
• Trouble breathing gets worse
• You start to feel or appear exhausted

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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