There's virtually no difference between shortness of breath (SOB) and difficulty breathing; they are different terms for the same medical symptom, medically known as dyspnea, which is the uncomfortable, subjective feeling of not getting enough air or struggling to breathe, ranging from mild breathlessness after exertion to severe gasping, often signaling underlying heart or lung issues but also anxiety.
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is difficulty breathing when resting or performing every day, age-appropriate tasks. Shortness of breath is commonly associated with symptoms of fatigue and anxiety, as well as a possible cough and/or chest pain.
Shortness of breath has many causes. Sometimes conditions such as anxiety can lead to shortness of breath. Some children get mild shortness of breath when they exercise. Trouble breathing also can be a symptom of a serious problem, such as asthma, lung disease, heart problems, and pneumonia.
Get emergency medical care if you experience shortness of breath that: Began suddenly and affects your ability to function. Is accompanied by chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes. Is accompanied by dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting.
The three main types of dyspnea (shortness of breath) are often categorized by onset and duration (acute vs. chronic) or by specific positional triggers, with common examples being Orthopnea (worse lying down), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND) (waking up gasping at night), and Exertional Dyspnea (with activity). Other types include Platypnea (worse standing) and Bendopnea (when bending forward).
Symptoms of breathlessness can include:
Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung problems. But it can also be a sign of other conditions like asthma, allergies or anxiety. Intense exercise or having a cold can also make you feel breathless.
you have severe difficulty breathing – you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out. your chest feels tight or heavy. you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw. your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands.
lung problems, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer. heart problems, such as a heart attack or heart failure. infections of your airways, such as croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, COVID-19, flu or even a cold. a panic attack or anxiety.
Early signs of pneumonia often mimic cold or flu but worsen, including fever, chills, cough (with or without mucus), fatigue, and shortness of breath, sometimes with chest pain, rapid breathing, headache, and loss of appetite, notes Healthdirect, Better Health Channel, American Lung Association, and Mayo Clinic. In older adults, confusion or disorientation can be a key sign, while infants might show restlessness or feeding difficulties, say Healthdirect, Mayo Clinic, and WebMD.
Make an appointment with your healthcare professional if your shortness of breath happens along with: Swelling in your feet and ankles. Trouble breathing when you lie flat. High fever, chills and cough.
If your child has asthma and you're concerned about food allergies as possible asthma triggers, it's important to know which foods could be responsible.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
If you need one or more lung function tests, your provider may also order a blood oxygen level test called an arterial blood gas (ABG) test. This blood test measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood.
It might feel like your chest is tight. Or you have trouble breathing or can't breathe at all. Sometimes it may feel like you're suffocating. Shortness of breath can be a sign of some medical conditions, including asthma, COPD and heart failure, as well as anxiety or panic attacks.
Shortness of breath is the uncomfortable feeling that you are running out of air or are not able to breathe deeply enough and feel “air hungry.” The medical term for this is dyspnea, which may occur when walking, climbing stairs, performing daily activities like cooking or cleaning, or even when sitting still.
While there's no standardized definition for shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, most people who experience shortness of breath have difficulty breathing, discomfort while breathing, or feel as though they aren't getting enough oxygen.
After doing a physical exam and listening to your heart and lungs, your healthcare provider may order additional tests. These tests and procedures may include blood tests, imaging tests such as a chest X-ray or CT scan, lung function tests like spirometry or an echocardiogram.
Causes of Shortness of Breath
It may arise from lung issues, heart conditions, blood disorders, or even psychological factors. According to research published by NCBI, conditions such as heart failure (HF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma are among the most common contributors.
What are the types of breathing?
Go to urgent care when breathing is hard but not life-threatening. Go to urgent care if: You have mild to medium shortness of breath that started recently. You have a cough that makes breathing hard, but you can still talk.
Common cardio-respiratory conditions such as cancer,10 chronic non-malignant lung disease, and heart failure increase in prevalence with age and are common causes of breathlessness (60% – 88% with heart failure and 90% – 95% with late stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Many conditions can make you feel short of breath: Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema, or pneumonia. Problems with your trachea or bronchi, which are part of your airway system. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body.
He also called it pseudo-dyspnoea, which means false shortness of breath. This term is used when a person's breathlessness isn't due to heart or lung disorders or any other demonstrable physical problem. It often gets better with exercise, which is the complete reverse of true dyspnoea, which improves with rest.
How and when to use salbutamol inhalers Brand names: Ventolin, Airomir, Asmalal, Easyhaler, Pulvinal, Salamol, Easi-Breathe, Salbulin. Only use your salbutamol inhaler when you need it. This may be when: you notice symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.