Shortness of breath in older people, what to do? Causes and treatment of shortness of breath when walking in older people Wheezing when walking

The occurrence of constant shortness of breath while walking brings a lot of discomfort into the life of every person. After all, difficulty breathing, which occurs during the onset of shortness of breath, negatively affects the functioning of all systems and organs in the human body.

With age, shortness of breath that occurs when a person walks can cause diseases. In addition, it should be noted that the appearance of shortness of breath in a person may also indicate the occurrence of various kinds chronic diseases or deterioration of health.

Main symptoms

In a person, shortness of breath can occur suddenly, and it can be chronic or paroxysmal in nature. Some people experience shortness of breath occasionally, and it goes away just as suddenly as it appeared. K bright severe symptoms shortness of breath should be attributed to:

• the appearance of whistling or wheezing during breathing;
• the occurrence of a sharp lack of air;
• disturbed rhythm, as well as depth during breathing.

When shortness of breath appears, a person begins to turn sharply pale, and his lips become of blue color. If this disease has a chronic form, then in this case a person experiences difficulty breathing even when he is at rest or in a lying position. In order to determine the form of shortness of breath (chronic, paroxysmal), it is necessary to analyze the frequency of inhalations and compare it with the frequency of exhalations.

If the breathing rhythm deviates greatly from normal indicator, then this most likely indicates the appearance of chronic shortness of breath in a person. The occurrence of shortness of breath can be triggered by such external irritants and factors as:

• Walking.
• Physical exercise.
• Incorrect posture during night rest.

The main reason for shortness of breath while walking is associated with work disorders of cardio-vascular system. The fact is that while walking the coronary vascular system does not have time to properly supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium. In addition, one of the reasons for a person to experience shortness of breath when walking may be the presence of an ailment such as heart disease or excessive thinning of the walls of the blood vessels. As a result of the occurrence of these ailments, a lack of oxygen may begin in the body, which, in turn, can provoke the development of oxygen starvation while walking and, as a consequence of this, become the main cause of shortness of breath.

A little physical activity on the body is a daily necessity. However, if, in the event of even the slightest physical activity, a person begins to experience attacks of shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air, then this may indicate the occurrence of pathology. This pathology appears in humans due to disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory or cardiac organs. For example, due to the occurrence of such a pathology, it becomes difficult for a person to climb the stairs. Indeed, even with such insignificant physical activity, the respiratory organs and heart (in the presence of pathologies) do not have time to saturate the body with oxygen, which leads to shortness of breath or can even cause loss of consciousness.

Causes of the disease

Attacks of shortness of breath that occur while walking can provoke a variety of diseases. It is possible to determine the type and classify the disease that provokes a lack of oxygen in the body by analyzing the frequency of inhaled and exhaled air. Each disease that causes shortness of breath has a specific designation and symptoms. In this regard, shortness of breath comes in several types.

1. Pulmonary shortness of breath can cause bronchial asthma. Quite often it appears due to bronchitis or when allergic swelling of the bronchi appears. Symptoms of this form of shortness of breath are expressed in the appearance of whistling and wheezing sounds during exhalation. However, with pulmonary dyspnea, unlike shortness of breath cardiac type, a person can rest peacefully at night without attacks of suffocation.
2. Cardiac dyspnea can occur in a person as a result of mitral stenosis or due to the appearance of such an ailment as heart failure. As a result of these pathologies, serious violations in the circulatory system, which causes a disorder and disruptions in the functioning of the respiratory system. The main signs of this type of shortness of breath are:

Orthopnea. May appear due to left atrial failure. After the appearance of this illness, a person, in order to alleviate his condition, tries to constantly remain in horizontal position.

Polypnea. Appears due to excessive blood flow to the heart muscle. As a rule, it occurs against the background of acute heart failure. The main signs are an increased frequency and greatly increased depth of breathing, which quite often leads to so-called hyperventilation in the lung area.

Hematogenous dyspnea may occur due to toxins entering the bloodstream. The cause of such intoxication of the body can be the appearance of such ailments as diabetes mellitus and liver disease. When this type of shortness of breath appears in a person, even in the case of slight exertion, breathing significantly quickens and begins to become noisier.

Treatment options

For correct and maximum effective treatment For this disease, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause of its occurrence in humans. To do this you need to do comprehensive examination of the whole body, which should be aimed at identifying all diseases and pathologies in the body that may be the main cause of the symptoms of shortness of breath.

Attention! In order to get rid of such a pathological condition as shortness of breath, it is necessary to ensure normal ventilation and air flow into the lungs. In order to achieve this, first of all, the patient himself must make considerable efforts. First of all, when symptoms of shortness of breath appear, you need to give up such a harmful bad habit as smoking, lead more active image life, take walks more often fresh air and gradually load the body with physical activity.

During the treatment of a disease such as orthopnea, which significantly complicates the breathing of a person even in a calm state, for example, in a horizontal position, immunotherapy is performed. Also, in the treatment of this disease, the use of ultrasonic inhalation sanitation is very effective. To treat this type of shortness of breath you need to:

• eliminate foci of infection in the body and respiratory organs;
• increase the resistance of the immune system;
• lead to normal condition Gastrointestinal tract;
• carry out energetic activation of the whole organism.

If the main cause of shortness of breath is infectious diseases of the respiratory system, then in this case it is necessary to use medical supplies. However, it should be noted that only a qualified specialist can prescribe medications correctly. In this case, self-medicate and take medicines not only harmful, but also dangerous to health.

To treat shortness of breath, which may occur due to a disease such as bronchospasm, medications are used that have a long and short-term period of action. Short-term medications include salbutamol. It is produced in the form of inhalers, tablets and solutions. Long-acting medications include formoterol (capsules or inhaler) and salmeterol.

The use of alternative medicine in the treatment of shortness of breath

Quite often, in order to eliminate or alleviate the symptoms of shortness of breath, so-called alternative or traditional medicine is used.

1. In most cases, tinctures made from hawthorn inflorescence are used to treat shortness of breath. To prepare this tincture you need to take 3 cups hot water and pour it over about 150 grams of hawthorn flowers. Then the resulting tincture needs to be strained and given several hours so that it can infuse. It should be taken in small doses, several times a day.
2. An oil made from honey and a plant called juniper has proven effective in treating shortness of breath. To prepare it, you need to use about 130 grams of juniper cones, add 80 grams of butter and 180 grams of honey. The resulting mass must be steamed using a water bath. You can use this product daily, a few tablespoons at a time.
3. Perhaps the most simple means A traditional medicine that can be used during the treatment of shortness of breath is lilac. To prepare such a remedy, you need to take some lilac flowers (one tablespoon will be enough) and pour 250 milliliters of boiling water over them. You need to take this tincture 4 times in one day, 2 tablespoons each. It is recommended to use this remedy on an empty stomach, at least half an hour before meals.

Preventing shortness of breath

In order to avoid having such a problem as shortness of breath when walking in the future, you need to follow several rules that will help prevent its occurrence. After all, as you know, it is much easier to prevent any disease than to treat it later.

1. In order to prevent the occurrence of such a condition as shortness of breath, you need to monitor your psycho-emotional state. Always try to keep it in good condition.
2. It is also very important to keep healthy image life, stop using alcoholic drinks, large amounts of caffeine, fatty foods. Quitting tobacco use significantly minimizes the possibility of a person developing shortness of breath and diseases of the respiratory system and cardiovascular system.
3. In addition, to prevent the occurrence of such a pathology as shortness of breath, you must try to lead an active lifestyle. From time to time, within reasonable limits, load the body with various physical activities. This could be morning exercises, gymnastics, or just long walks in the fresh air.
4. It is also very important to monitor your diet and weight. Overweight can become one of the main causes of pathologies of the cardiovascular system. And these pathologies can, in turn, cause shortness of breath. In addition, to prevent the occurrence of this disease, it is necessary to constantly monitor the position of your body during rest (the angle of contact between the head and the pillow should be 40 degrees).
5. To prevent shortness of breath, you must also carefully monitor your diet. It is not recommended to use salt in large quantities during cooking. Also, you should not overuse smoked meats, fatty foods, caffeine. If shortness of breath occurs, it is necessary to monitor the amount of water consumed. In this case daily norm The amount of liquid consumed should not exceed one liter.

Video: arrhythmia and shortness of breath during exercise

The causes of shortness of breath can be different and do not always indicate the presence of pathology. Normally, it can manifest itself in people who lead sedentary lifestyle life, with significant physical activity. Pathological shortness of breath is accompanied by heart disease, pulmonary diseases, as well as anemia and osteochondrosis. In pregnant women, shortness of breath may occur due to of this period or pathologies of the same organs and systems as in the normal state.

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  Physiology of the process

  Dyspnea is a breathing disorder accompanied by changes in its depth and frequency. It becomes superficial and rapid, which is a manifestation of a compensatory mechanism in response to oxygen deficiency.

  Dyspnea that occurs when you inhale is called inspiratory, and when you exhale it is called expiratory. It can also be mixed, that is, it can be felt both when inhaling and when exhaling. Subjectively, it feels like a lack of air, a feeling of pressure in the chest.

  Shortness of breath can appear in an adult and is normal, then it is called physiological. Occurs in the following cases:

  • with excessive physical activity, especially if the person previously led a sedentary lifestyle;
  • at high altitudes under hypoxic conditions;
  • in confined spaces where large amounts of carbon dioxide are present.

  Physiological shortness of breath quickly disappears if you eliminate physical inactivity, gradually increase the load when playing sports, and adapt to high altitudes.

  If a symptom persists for a long time and creates discomfort, it may signal the presence of a serious illness. In this case, it is necessary to take measures to identify and treat it. Depending on the cause of occurrence, there are several types of pathological shortness of breath:

  • cardiac;
  • pulmonary;
  • shortness of breath due to anemia.

  Shortness of breath can occur in acute, subacute and chronic forms, appear suddenly and disappear instantly or be constant symptom and the patient's chief complaint. For diagnosis and treatment, you can contact specialists such as a therapist, cardiologist, pulmonologist or family doctor.

  Cardiac dyspnea

  Occurs as a consequence of heart pathology, has chronic course. Is one of the most important symptoms heart disease. Depending on its type, duration and cause of occurrence (degree of physical activity), the stages of heart failure can be determined.

  Reasons that can cause this pathology:

  • acute coronary syndrome;
  • cardiomyopathy;
  • myocarditis;
  • hemopericardium;
  • pericarditis;
  • heart defects (acquired and congenital);
  • heart failure.

  Cardiac dyspnea is most common in older people, but also occurs in young people, especially men.

  

  Heart failure

  Heart failure is a pathology in which, due to certain reasons, the heart cannot pump the required volume of blood. In most cases it develops under the following conditions:

  • coronary heart disease;
  • restrictive cardiomyopathy;
  • bradycardia;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • constructive pericarditis;
  • pulmonary hypertension;
  • heart defects.
  
  

  The mechanism is associated with the pathology of blood release, which leads to impaired nutrition of brain tissue and congestion in the lungs. Ventilation conditions change, gas exchange is disrupted. Shortness of breath may be absent during the first stages of the disease. Further, as the pathology progresses, it appears under heavy loads, later - under light loads and even at rest.

  Additional symptoms are:

  • coughing up blood;
  • night cough;
  • bluish tint of the skin (cyanosis);
  • orthopnea (increased breathing in a horizontal position);
  • increased urine production at night;
  • swelling.

  

  Acute coronary syndrome

  Acute coronary syndrome is a group of symptoms and signs that suggest the presence of myocardial infarction or unstable angina. These diseases have similar pathogenetic mechanisms, which makes it difficult for them differential diagnosis on initial stage.

  This condition appears when:

  • coronary artery thrombosis;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • insufficiency of oxygen supply to the myocardium.

  The symptoms are:

  • chest pain radiating to left shoulder, arm or lower jaw;
  • shortness of breath, including at rest;
  • feeling of heaviness behind the sternum;
  • fainting.
  
  

  An ECG helps differentiate these two diseases. The first aid when symptoms appear is to use nitroglycerin (sublingually).

  Heart defects

  They represent pathological changes in organ structures that lead to impaired blood flow. The symptoms are:

  • cyanosis;
  • dyspnea;
  • pale skin;
  • headache;
  • retardation in physical development;
  • loss of consciousness.

  

  Acquired heart defects include valvular or large vessel disorders

  Heart defects can be completely treated only by surgical methods.

  Cardiomyopathy

  A disease characterized by damage to the heart and its hypertrophy (increase in the volume of muscle cells). Clinical manifestations are not specific to of this disease, so patients often do not see a doctor.

  
  

  Other pathologies

  Other causes of shortness of breath may include:

  • Myocarditis. In this case, the myocardium is damaged, mainly by inflammation. The disease is accompanied by pain in the sternum, shortness of breath and weakness, dizziness.
  • Pericarditis. Inflammatory damage to the pericardium. Similar to myocarditis, it is accompanied by prolonged pain in the sternum, which, unlike acute coronary syndrome, does not subside with nitroglycerin.
  
  

  Pulmonary dyspnea

  Pulmonary dyspnea is a disorder of the depth and frequency of breathing that appears in diseases of the respiratory system. There are obstacles to the passage of air rushing into the alveoli, and insufficient oxygenation occurs.

  Pulmonary type of dyspnea appears when inflammatory diseases lung parenchyma, the presence of foreign bodies or other pathologies of the respiratory system. The most common conditions are:

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
  • emphysema;
  • pneumonia;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • pneumothorax;
  • pulmonary embolism;
  • aspiration;
  • hemothorax.

  COPD

  It is characterized by reversible (partially) and progressive difficulty in the passage of air flow into the respiratory tract.

  The disease is in 3rd place in the world as a cause of death. This is the most common pathology of all respiratory tract diseases.

  The reasons are:

  • smoking;
  • air pollution with various harmful substances;
  • bronchial infections (often recurring);
  • frequent respiratory tract infections in childhood.
  
  

  Main symptoms:

  • chronic cough;
  • purulent viscous sputum;
  • dyspnea.

  Shortness of breath appears as a result of an inflammatory process affecting the structures of the lungs and leads to airway obstruction.

  Emphysema

  Irreversible expansion of the air space of the bronchioles due to changes in their alveolar walls. The main causes are COPD or Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Under the influence of inflammation during breathing, excess air remains in the lungs, causing them to overstretch.

  The stretched area cannot function normally, as a result of which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. Shortness of breath occurs as a leveling mechanism in order to improve the excretion of the latter.

  The main symptoms of emphysema are:

  • copious sputum;
  • cough;
  • cyanosis (blue color);
  • dyspnea;
  • barrel chest;
  • widening the spaces between the ribs.

  Bronchial asthma

  A chronic disease of the respiratory tract, characterized by attacks of suffocation. This disease affects about 5-10% of the population.

  The causes of asthma development include:

  • hereditary factor;
  • allergic reactions;
  • negative factors environment;
  • professional reasons.
  
  

  Under the influence of provoking factors, an increased reaction to irritation of the bronchial tree occurs, a large amount of mucus is released, and a spasm of smooth muscles occurs. This leads to reversible bronchial obstruction and resulting attacks of shortness of breath. The latter develops against the background of the fact that the obstruction becomes more pronounced during exhalation and a sufficient volume of air remains in the lungs, which leads to their stretching.

  Manifestations of asthma are:

  • feeling of discomfort in the sternum;
  • sputum;
  • panic;
  • periodic episodes of shortness of breath.

  Asthma is a chronic disease. Treatment cannot completely eliminate its causes, but it helps improve the quality of life of patients.

  Acute and chronic pneumonia

  Inflammation of the lungs affecting the alveoli or interstitial tissue. It is caused by various microorganisms and is therefore classified as an infectious disease. The most common pathogens:

  • streptococci;
  • pneumococci;
  • mycoplasma;
  • respiratory viruses;
  • legionella;
  • staphylococci.

  The pathogen enters the respiratory tract from other foci of infection or through inhalation, as well as after medical procedures. Pathogens multiply in the bronchial epithelium with the spread inflammatory process to the lungs.

  The alveoli involved in pathological processes do not participate in the intake of oxygen and cause the following symptoms:

  • dyspnea;
  • chest pain;
  • weakness;
  • malaise;
  • cough;
  • temperature increase.
  
  

  Pneumonia can also occur in atypical form- with dry cough, fever, myalgia.

  Pneumothorax

  Pathology is an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Pneumothorax can be open or closed, depending on whether there is communication with the environment.

  
  

  There are the following types:

  • Spontaneous pneumothorax. Caused by rupture of blisters in pulmonary emphysema.
  • Trauma (in case of chest injury or broken ribs).
  • Iatrogenic pneumothorax associated with medical care. Appears after pleural puncture, subclavian vein catheterization or chest surgery.

  As a result of the above factors, air enters the pleural cavity, increases pressure and collapses the lung.

  Clinical manifestations are:

  • asymmetrical movements of the chest;
  • coughing attacks;
  • a feeling that the person is beginning to suffocate;
  • pale skin with a bluish tint.

  Hemothorax

  Collection of blood in pleural cavity, which causes compression of the lung, makes breathing difficult, and promotes displacement of organs. Caused by the following factors:

  • medical manipulations in traumatology;
  • aortic aneurysm;
  • some pathologies (tuberculosis, abscess).
  
  

  The clinical picture depends on the degree of compression of the organs. The signs are:

  • chest pain;
  • shortness of breath (the patient has difficulty breathing);
  • tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
  • pallor;
  • fainting;
  • forced adoption of a sitting or semi-sitting position.

  Pulmonary embolism

  Blockage of the lumen of the pulmonary artery by emboli. Emboli can be:

  • adipose tissue;
  • air;
  • thrombus;
  • malignant tumor cells.
  
  
  • tachycardia;
  • severe chest pain;
  • dyspnea;
  • fainting;
  • cough;
  • hemoptysis.

  May lead to pulmonary infarction, acute heart failure and death.

  Aspiration

  A condition characterized by the penetration of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract. Accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • sharp cough;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • suffocation;
  • noisy breathing with expiratory shortness of breath.

  During development this state must be called immediately medical care to prevent respiratory arrest. Effective way removal of fluid or foreign body is bronchoscopy.

  Shortness of breath with anemia

  Anemia is a decrease in the level of hematocrit, hemoglobin, or red blood cells. Maybe like separate disease as well as a symptom.

  The most common is iron deficiency anemia.

  
  

  Shortness of breath develops as a result of pathological processes occurring in the body: the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin synthesis are disrupted, and hypoxia increases.

  Causes

  Anemia is a consequence large quantity factors characterized by different mechanisms of action, but similar symptoms. Most common reasons are:

  Nutrient deficiencies

  It develops for the following reasons:

  • vegetarian diet;
  • diet on dairy products;
  • poor quality nutrition due to low income.

  In case of a lack of vitamins B12 and B9, the synthesis process is disrupted nucleic acids. Because of this, cell activity is inhibited and anemic syndrome develops.

  Lack of iron causes a disruption in the formation of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to cells. Hypoxia and corresponding symptoms develop.

  Malabsorption of substances

  Some nutrients are present in the required quantities in the diet, but some gastrointestinal pathologies prevent them from being absorbed. This occurs under the following conditions:

  • malabsorption syndrome;
  • resection of the proximal part of the small intestine;
  • gastric resection;
  • chronic enteritis.

  Increased need for nutrients

  At certain periods of life, a person has the greatest need for certain substances. Even if they enter the body and are absorbed, they still cannot cover all the body’s needs. This occurs during hormonal changes, intensive processes of cell growth and division.

  These periods include:

  • pregnancy;
  • lactation;
  • teenage years.

  Bleeding

  With large blood losses, a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells occurs, and as a result, anemia develops. The danger is that in this case it becomes acute and can threaten the patient's life. The reasons may be:

  • heavy menstruation;
  • blood donation;
  • bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract due to ulcers;
  • injuries;
  • violation of hemostasis;
  • taking medications.

  Taking medications

  Sometimes anemia can develop as by-effect from taking medications. This happens when they are prescribed inappropriately without taking into account the patient’s condition or when taking medications for a period of time. long period.Medicines that can cause anemia include:

  • antiviral, antimalarial, antiepileptic drugs;
  • antipsychotic medications;
  • antibiotics.

  Any medications must be taken under the supervision of a physician and after laboratory diagnostics.

  • necatoriasis;
  • ascariasis;
  • hookworm disease;
  • cysticercosis.

  In these cases, helminths multiply in the intestines and use certain substances for their vital functions, creating their deficiency.

  Some other causes of anemia:

  • Oncology. With a tumor, the development of anemia has complex mechanism. It may occur as a result of massive blood loss, lack of appetite, or taking certain strong anticancer drugs.
  • Intoxication. Anemia can occur in case of benzene or lead poisoning. A violation of porphyrin synthesis and bone marrow damage develops.
  • Genetic factor. Anomalies that can lead to anemia in this case include: a violation of the structure of hemoglobin, enzymopathies, a defect in the erythrocyte membrane.

  Pregnancy

  Shortness of breath during pregnancy mainly develops in the second half and is of a physiological nature. Occurs for the following reasons:

  • The compensatory mechanism is the process of adaptation of the body to the increased need for oxygen due to changes occurring in the respiratory system.
  • Hormonal changes can also affect the appearance of shortness of breath. Progesterone stimulates the respiratory center, promoting pulmonary ventilation.
  • Increased fetal weight. As the pregnancy progresses and the fetus develops, the gradually enlarging uterus begins to put pressure on organs, including the diaphragm, which leads to breathing problems.

  If shortness of breath appears after walking or climbing stairs, the expectant mother should rest. Pregnant women are recommended to carry out breathing exercises to prevent pathologies.

  Distinguish following reasons pathological shortness of breath in pregnant women:

  • Anemia is a common condition during pregnancy associated with impaired hemoglobin synthesis. It is necessary to monitor its level in order to prevent the development of pathology.
  • Smoking - damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract occurs, atherosclerotic plaques accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, which contributes to poor circulation.
  • Stress is a factor that contributes to an increase in breathing rate and heart rate.
  • Diseases of the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels.

  At pathological conditions shortness of breath is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • cough;
  • pallor and cyanosis;
  • malaise;
  • hyperthermia;
  • dizziness;
  • disturbance of consciousness;
  • headache.

  Shortness of breath with osteochondrosis

  Sometimes shortness of breath occurs with osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic.Characterized by the following reasons:

  • reduction of space between the vertebrae;
  • vertebral displacement;
  • compression of blood vessels;
  • pinched nerve roots;
  • chest deformity.
  

  It is often mistaken for a symptom of lung or heart disease, making timely diagnosis difficult.

  Shortness of breath in a child

  Shortness of breath in children is caused by the same reasons as in adults. The child’s body is more sensitive to pathologies and reacts to the slightest changes.

  Normally, the respiratory rate in children of each age group is different:

  Violation of this norm may be a symptom of a serious illness. If a child experiences shortness of breath, you should contact a pediatrician or cardiologist. The reasons may be:

  • allergy;
  • rhinitis (leads to shortness of breath due to difficulty passing air through the respiratory tract);
  • bronchial asthma;
  • viral infections;
  • heart disease (manifested by developmental delay and cyanosis);
  • lung diseases;
  • entry of a foreign body (requires urgent treatment);
  • hyperventilation syndrome, which occurs during stress or high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood;
  • obesity;
  • cystic fibrosis - genetic pathology, characterized by disruption of the glands;
  • excessive physical activity;
  • diseases of the immune system;
  • hormone imbalance.

  Diagnostics

  For cardiac dyspnea are prescribed following methods examinations:

  • physical examination;
  • general analysis blood and urine biochemical analysis;
  • radiography, CT, MRI;
  • electrocardiography;
  • coronary angiography.

  Anamnesis collection includes information such as: characteristics of shortness of breath and its intensity, hereditary factors, the presence of chronic heart disease, time of onset of shortness of breath, dependence on body position and physical activity.

  A general blood test reveals the following abnormalities:

  • Hemoglobin is reduced. This suggests that there is a lack of oxygen in the myocardial tissue.
  • Leukocytes are increased. This phenomenon means the presence infectious process in the body, the causes of which are myocarditis, pericarditis, infective endocarditis.
  • Red blood cells are low - characteristic of chronic heart disease.
  • Platelets are increased (a sign appears when blood vessels are blocked) or decreased (noted during bleeding).
  • ESR ( nonspecific factor inflammatory process) is increased, which occurs when the heart is damaged by infection, myocardial infarction, rheumatism.

  Pulmonary dyspnea is diagnosed using the following methods:

  • general tests;
  • physical examination;
  • determination of d-dimer level;
  • X-ray, CT;
  • scintigraphy;
  • Pulse oximetry.

  When making a diagnosis, the following information is important: the presence of anemia, the number of leukocytes in the blood (increased or normal level), d-dimer level (indicates the process of thrombus formation). The most common reasons for the increase in the latter are malignant tumors and pulmonary embolism. X-rays can detect the following pathologies: bronchitis, pneumothorax, pneumonia, tumor, pulmonary edema and others. Almost the same information is provided by CT.

  Pulse oximetry determines the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. If it is below 95%, this indicates respiratory failure.

  Bronchoscopy is also performed to determine the presence of foreign bodies or changes in the bronchi. During laryngoscopy, the larynx is examined, and during thoracoscopy, the pleural cavity is examined.

  Diagnosis of anemia includes a full-scale CBC with the following indicators: levels of iron and vitamin B12, transferrin and ferritin. A test for worms is also carried out.

  Treatment

  In the treatment of cardiac dyspnea, both folk remedies and medications are used. The latter are described in the table:

  Group	Representatives	Mechanism of action
  Diuretics	Furosemide, Torasemide	Relieves swelling, reduces blood pressure, reducing the load on the heart
  ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme)	Ramipril, Enalapril	Constrict blood vessels and have a hypotensive effect
  Angiotensin receptor blockers	Losartan, Eprosartan	Reduce blood pressure
  Beta blockers	Propranolol, Metoprolol, Acebutolol	Reduce blood pressure and heart rate
  Aldosterone antagonists	Aldactone, Spironolactone	Output excess liquid, increase potassium levels, reduce blood pressure
  Cardiac glycosides	Korglykon, Strophanthin K	Have a cardiotonic effect, normalize metabolic processes in the heart, eliminate stagnation
  Drugs against arrhythmia	Verapamil, Amiodarone, Diltiazem	Normalizes heart contractions

  Traditional methods for treating cardiac dyspnea include the following medicinal herbs:

  • Mint and lemon balm. They have a calming, vasodilating, hypotensive effect.
  • Valerian. Used when strong heartbeat, pain in the heart.
  • Calendula. Helps with arrhythmia, hypertension and tachycardia.
  • Hawthorn. Tones blood circulation, has a hypotonic effect.
  • Fish fat. Increases heart rate and prevents heart attacks.

  The following methods are used in the treatment of pulmonary dyspnea:

  • therapeutic;
  • surgical.

  Non-drug therapy includes:

  • breathing exercises;
  • refusal bad habits;
  • active immunization against diseases that cause pathologies;
  • sanitization of foci of infection.

  Drug treatment includes taking the drugs described in the table:

  Group	Representatives	Mechanism of action
  Beta2-agonists	Salbutamol, Salmeterol, Fenoterol	Relaxes and expands the muscular wall of the bronchi
  Antibiotics	Fluoroquinolones, penicillins, cephalosporins	Suppress pathogenic microflora
  M-anticholinergics	Ipratropium bromide	Reduces bronchial tone and makes breathing easier
  Methylxanthines	Theophylline, Aminophylline	Inhibits the release of allergy mediators from mast cells, dilate the bronchi
  Glucocorticosteroids	Fluticasone, Triamcinolone	Relieves inflammation, reduces swelling of the airways and the amount of bronchial secretions

  The choice of treatment for anemia depends on what is causing it. This may include taking vitamins, following a diet, and eliminating irritants.

  Folk remedies

  Treatment of shortness of breath folk remedies quite popular. A widely known method involves the use of honey, garlic and lemon. Getting ready healing agent in the following way:

  • You need to take 1 liter of liquid honey, 10 heads of garlic and 10 lemons.
  • The garlic is completely peeled and minced, and the juice is squeezed out of the lemons.
  • All components are mixed and infused.
  • Take the mixture once a day, 3-4 tsp. regardless of food intake.

  A herbal infusion of lemon balm, wormwood, motherwort or hawthorn flowers is also used. A decoction is prepared from a herb (of your choice). 2-3 tbsp. l. pour boiling water and infuse. The decoction is taken before meals, 3 tbsp. l., wormwood - 1 teaspoon each.

  To be effective, the course of treatment must be at least two weeks.

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is a painful feeling of lack of air, in extreme terms taking the form of suffocation.

If shortness of breath occurs in a healthy person against the background of physical activity or severe psycho-emotional stress, it is considered physiological. Its cause is the body's increased need for oxygen. In other cases, shortness of breath is caused by some disease and is called pathological.

According to the difficulty of the inhalation or exhalation phase, shortness of breath is distinguished as inspiratory and expiratory, respectively. A variant of mixed shortness of breath with limitation of both phases is also possible.

There are several types of shortness of breath. Dyspnea is considered subjective if the patient feels difficulty breathing, dissatisfaction with inhalation, but this cannot be measured and there are no factors for its occurrence. Most often it is a symptom of hysteria, neurosis, and thoracic radiculitis. Objective shortness of breath is characterized by a violation of the frequency, depth of breathing, duration of inhalation or exhalation, as well as increased work of the respiratory muscles.

Causes of shortness of breath

Shortness of breath can be caused by a long list of diseases. First of all this:

• respiratory system diseases,
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system,
• blood diseases,
• endocrine system disorders and other factors.

Diseases associated with shortness of breath

In diseases of the respiratory system, shortness of breath may be the result of an obstruction in the airways or a decrease in the respiratory surface area of ​​the lungs.

Obstacle in the upper respiratory tract (foreign body, swelling, accumulation of sputum) makes it difficult to inhale and pass air to the lungs, thereby causing inspiratory dyspnea. Reduction of the lumen of the final sections of the bronchial tree - bronchioles, small bronchi at inflammatory edema or spasm of their smooth muscles prevents exhalation, causing expiratory shortness of breath. In the case of narrowing of the trachea or large bronchus, shortness of breath takes on a mixed character, which is associated with the limitation of both phases of the respiratory act.

Mixed shortness of breath will also be due to inflammation of the lung parenchyma (pneumonia), atelectasis, tuberculosis, actinomycosis ( fungal infection), silicosis, pulmonary infarction or compressing it from the outside with air, liquid in the pleural cavity (with hydrothorax, pneumothorax). Severe mixed shortness of breath up to suffocation is observed with pulmonary embolism. The patient takes a forced sitting position with support on his hands. Choking in the form sudden attack is a symptom of asthma, bronchial or cardiac.

With pleurisy, breathing becomes shallow and painful; a similar picture is observed with chest injuries and inflammation of the intercostal nerves, damage to the respiratory muscles (with poliomyelitis, paralysis, myasthenia gravis).

Shortness of breath due to heart disease is a fairly common and diagnostically significant symptom. The cause of shortness of breath here is a weakening of the pumping function of the left ventricle and stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation.

The severity of heart failure can be judged by the degree of shortness of breath. At the initial stage, shortness of breath appears during physical activity: climbing stairs more than 2-3 floors, walking uphill, against the wind, moving at a fast pace. As the disease progresses, it becomes difficult to breathe even with slight exertion, when talking, eating, walking at a calm pace, or lying horizontally. In the severe stage of the disease, shortness of breath occurs even with minimal exertion and any actions, such as getting out of bed, moving around the apartment, bending the body, entail a feeling of lack of air. In the final stage, shortness of breath is present even at rest.

Attacks of severe shortness of breath, suffocation that occur after physical, psycho-emotional stress or suddenly, often at night, during sleep are called cardiac asthma. The patient is in a forced sitting position. Breathing becomes noisy, bubbling, audible at a distance. Discharge may occur frothy sputum, which indicates the onset of pulmonary edema, the participation of auxiliary muscles in the act of breathing and retraction of the intercostal spaces are noticeable to the naked eye.

In addition, shortness of breath in combination with chest pain, palpitations, interruptions in heart function may be a sign of acute myocardial infarction, rhythm disturbances (paroxysmal tachycardia, atrial fibrillation) and is conditioned sharp decline cardiac function, decreased perfusion and oxygen supply to organs and tissues.

A group of blood diseases in which shortness of breath is one of the symptoms includes anemia and leukemia ( tumor diseases). Both are characterized by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells, the main role of which is oxygen transport. Accordingly, oxygenation of organs and tissues deteriorates. A compensatory reaction occurs, the frequency and depth of breathing increases - thereby the body begins to consume more oxygen from the environment per unit of time.

The simplest and most reliable method for diagnosing these conditions is a general blood test.

Another group is endocrine (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus) and hormonally active diseases (obesity).

For thyrotoxicosis thyroid gland an excess amount of hormones is produced, under the influence of which all metabolic processes are accelerated, metabolism and oxygen consumption increase. Here, shortness of breath, as with anemia, is compensatory in nature. In addition, high levels of T3 and T4 increase the work of the heart, contributing to rhythm disturbances of the type paroxysmal tachycardia, atrial fibrillation with the consequences mentioned above.

Shortness of breath in diabetes mellitus can be considered a consequence of diabetic microangiopathy, leading to impaired trophism and oxygen starvation of cells and tissues. The second link is kidney damage - diabetic nephropathy. The kidneys produce the hematopoietic factor erythropoietin, and its deficiency causes anemia.

With obesity, as a result of the deposition of adipose tissue in the internal organs, the work of the heart and lungs is hampered, and the excursion of the diaphragm is limited. In addition, obesity is often accompanied by atherosclerosis and hypertension, which also entails disruption of their function and the occurrence of shortness of breath.

Shortness of breath to the point of suffocation can be observed with various types of systemic poisoning. The mechanism of its development includes increased permeability vascular wall at the microcirculatory level and toxic pulmonary edema, as well as direct damage to the heart with disruption of its function and stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation.

Treatment of shortness of breath

It is impossible to eliminate shortness of breath without understanding the cause and identifying the disease that caused it. For any degree of severity of shortness of breath, you should consult a doctor to provide timely assistance and prevent complications. Doctors whose competence includes the treatment of diseases with shortness of breath are a therapist, a cardiologist, and an endocrinologist.

Specialists medical centers AVENUE in detail and in accessible form They will answer all questions related to your problem and do everything to solve it.

therapist, cardiologist AVENU-Alexandrovka MC

Zhornikov Denis Alexandrovich.

Dyspnea is a condition when the frequency and depth of breathing changes sharply during exercise or even at rest. Usually in this state a person feels a lack of air, and trying to get as much oxygen as possible, the patient makes shallow, frequent breathing movements, which only aggravates the situation.

Since the phases of breathing at different pathological processes respiratory function differ in their duration, it is customary to distinguish three types of shortness of breath:

1. Inspiratory, the patient has difficulty inhaling, while the exhalation phase occurs without changes.
2. Expiratory, the patient easily inhales air, but has difficulty exhaling.
3. Mixed, in this case both inhalation and exhalation occur with difficulty.

Depending on how often and in what condition the attack occurs, the severity of the disease is determined:

1. Shortness of breath occurs during intense physical exertion.
2. The attack may begin with fast or prolonged walking.
3. If shortness of breath occurs, the patient must take a calm position so that the attack passes.
4. Breathing complications may occur at rest.

Causes of shortness of breath

The most common causes of shortness of breath are anemia, diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. A healthy person may experience physiological shortness of breath, which does not require special treatment and goes away on its own. The main provoking factors are:

To cope with this condition, it is enough to change your lifestyle to a more active one, exercise daily and monitor your diet, but if shortness of breath does not go away and periodically recurs, you should consult with your doctor.

Shortness of breath when moving

Dyspnea can occur with excessive exercise or walking. If the disease progresses, the frequency of attacks will increase, and the required load will decrease. The occurrence of problems when walking quickly is due to a disruption in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which begins oxygen starvation, which is manifested by shortness of breath.

If difficulties appear when a person climbs stairs, this may indicate insufficient physical training or the presence of an infection in the lungs, other colds. Shortness of breath with minimal exertion occurs with problems with cardiac activity or diseases in the pulmonary and bronchial zone.

If an attack occurs while moving, a person experiences:

• lack of air, suffocation;
• difficulty breathing, changes in frequency and duration;
• pale skin;
• bluish lips;
• wheezing and whistling are heard when breathing;
• tightness in the sternum;
• excessive sweating;
• pain in the chest area, sometimes radiating to the arm and forearm; in some cases, the patient may lose consciousness.

When walking

The main factors leading to dyspnea are:

• abnormal structure of the chest, both congenital and acquired;
• neuroses, stress;
• thromboembolism;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• bronchial disease, mainly asthma;
• inflammatory processes of lung tissue, for example, pneumonia;
• violation metabolic processes, obesity;
• diseases of the cardiac system.

At rest

If a person begins to choke while in a calm, moderate state, this indicates the presence of pathology:

• accumulation of fluid in the pleural area;
• heart failure;
• anemia;
• unstable angina;
• diaphragmatic paralysis.

This condition requires urgent examination and treatment.

During physical activity

In addition to insufficient preparation of the body, weakness of the lungs and muscle atrophy, shortness of breath during sports can signal:

• development of bronchial asthma;
• presence of coronary heart disease;
• COPD;
• coronary artery disease;
• psychological disorders;
• an attack of pulmonary embolism.

Hematogenous and pulmonary

Mostly, with lung diseases, expiratory shortness of breath is observed. It is accompanied by swelling and spasms. Difficulty in exhaling also occurs during an attack of bronchial asthma. The patient hears characteristic whistling and wheezing.

Inspiratory shortness of breath during movement can occur with swelling and disease of the larynx, or the presence of a tumor in this area.

The hematogenous form occurs rarely, mainly in diabetics or people with kidney, liver, endocrine disorders. This is due to the entry of decay products into the bloodstream and poisoning of the body with toxins. Breathing in this case is noisy, frequent and deep.

Central dyspnea

This symptom is associated with pathological changes in the functioning of the central nervous system. Provocateurs can be neuroses, as well as the intake of neurotropic substances. Most often expressed in arrhythmia.

For heart failure

When the walls of blood vessels are thinned, there are septal defects, stenosis, heart defects, or heart failure, cardiac shortness of breath may occur when the body lacks oxygen under load. There are two main signs of this condition:

1. Polypnea. When in a horizontal position there is a powerful flow of blood to the heart. The patient has deep and rapid breathing. This can happen with heart failure.
2. Orthopnea is the occurrence of cardiac shortness of breath when a person is forced to be in an upright position in order to be able to perform breathing movements. This condition is observed with left atrial and left ventricular failure.

Anemia

In this condition, the number of red blood cells and the hemoglobin level in the blood decrease. Anemia mainly occurs due to:

• lack of iron in the food received;
• large loss of blood during bleeding;
• lack of folic acid;
• low amount of vitamin B12 in the body.

Anemia can cause shortness of breath even at rest. In addition, the patient is worried frequent dizziness, brittle nails, thinning hair, the skin becomes dry and pale, and constant weakness appears.

Shortness of breath in children

Most often, a child begins to choke if there is an acute process in the lung tissue, for example, pneumonia, or if the baby is asthmatic. Each disease has its own striking characteristics that can differentiate it along with similar ailments:

How to get rid of shortness of breath?

To determine the cause of shortness of breath, it is necessary to undergo a series of examinations:

• General blood test and biochemistry;
• Ultrasound of the cardiac zone;
• chest x-ray.

In addition, the patient should:

• to refuse from bad habits;
• lose weight if you are obese;
• balance your diet by avoiding unhealthy foods;
• control blood pressure;
• workout.

When the examination results are ready, the doctor prescribes the main treatment to eliminate main reason. If found ischemic disease and pre-infarction condition, then the patient is shown rest and the necessary medications. For bronchial asthma or COPD, an inhalation system is used. Hypoxia responds well to oxygen therapy. For this purpose, there are special devices that saturate the body with oxygen at any time of the day.

Treatment with tablets

The occurrence of shortness of breath often occurs due to spasm in the bronchi, in this case the following are indicated:

1. Salbutamol, Terbutaline, Fenoterol. These drugs can be used both in the form of injections and in tablet form. They have short term actions.
2. Saltos, Formoterol, Clenbuterol have a longer effect.
3. Ditek, Berodual, Atrovent – inhalation drugs, helping to relieve spasm by relaxing the bronchi.
4. No-shpa, Papaverine - antispasmodics.
5. Ambroxol, Mucaltin help thin the sputum.

Treatment of shortness of breath with folk remedies

A home first aid kit can always help if you cannot immediately visit a doctor. But if the attacks continue, you should still see a specialist ethnoscience can only support the patient’s condition for a while. To stop an attack of shortness of breath you should:

1. Mix motherwort and hawthorn, 1 tbsp each. spoon and pour into a glass of boiling water. After an hour, the drink is filtered and taken twice a day.
2. Mix a few cloves of garlic with unpeeled grated lemon and leave for 5 days. Next, pour the mixture with 1.5 glasses of water and take 1 tbsp 2-3 times a day. spoon.
3. Pour 250 ml of lemon balm and chamomile herb 1:1 with boiling water, leave for about an hour and add a little lemon juice. Drink the resulting drink in small sips throughout the day.

Causes and features of treatment of shortness of breath in a child

When prescribing therapy, the main thing is to make the correct diagnosis. This may require consultation with a cardiologist, pulmonologist, allergist and pediatrician.

If an attack occurs, it is necessary to sit the baby down, open the window and unfasten all things that may interfere with the child’s breathing. If the reason is, then it is necessary to give the child, for example, Bronholitin. If there is difficulty in expelling sputum, then Mucaltin will help. For asthma, aminophylline, albuterol or inhalation of solutan are indicated.

Shortness of breath is not fatal disease, but only acts as a signal about the disease internal organs. If you experience mild shortness of breath, you need to calm down and take a comfortable sitting position. If episodes occur regularly, then it becomes necessary to consult with your doctor. IN in case of emergency when a person has difficulty breathing and the condition does not improve after a few minutes, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

We quickened our pace a little, and immediately felt how our breathing was shortened, and there was not enough air... Sound familiar? Shortness of breath is a problem that many people face, regardless of gender and age. This cannot be called an independent disease, but it is quite a symptom of quite serious illnesses. Breathing failure occurs even at rest, but the most common concern is shortness of breath when walking; its causes are quite extensive. Why does it occur, and how to deal with it?

What is shortness of breath and how does it manifest itself?

Not every increase in breathing can be classified as shortness of breath. For example, having quickly climbed to the fifth floor or having run a hundred meters, he begins to breathe heavily and is absolutely healthy man. Such situations do not apply to the problem under consideration. True shortness of breath (or otherwise - dyspnea) is pathological change breathing, manifested by an increase (or decrease) and a change in the depth of breathing, during which a sharp lack of oxygen is felt. It can also arise due to physiological reasons, and as a manifestation of certain diseases (usually cardiac and pulmonary), as well as during pregnancy, obesity, asthma, etc. IN international classification ICD-10 diseases are assigned code R 06-8.

Symptoms

Shortness of breath occurs during exercise, walking, and in case of serious illnesses, both at rest and during sleep. You can recognize the disease even when encountering it for the first time.

Symptoms include:

• a feeling of tightness under the ribs, in the chest;
• difficulty in fully inhaling or exhaling;
• suffocation due to lack of air;
• often - dizziness.

Exist different types shortness of breath, but conditionally they can be divided into 2 groups:

• physiological;
• pathological.

If the former are associated with the physical unpreparedness of the body for stress, then the latter are a variant of the manifestation of dysfunctions of organs and systems of the body.

In addition, shortness of breath occurs:

• inspiratory, when interruptions in breathing occur during inspiration;
• expiratory, when exhalation is difficult.

Most often, inspiratory shortness of breath is characteristic of people with bronchial asthma, lung and heart diseases. This condition can also be caused by getting stuck in the airways. foreign object(mainly in children). The opposite, expiratory dyspnea, is characteristic of persons observed by a cardiologist and pulmonologist, as well as during a hysterical outburst, during pregnancy, during overweight bodies. Sometimes mixed shortness of breath is observed, caused by heart failure or lung pathology.

Dyspnea is divided into types and depending on the respiratory rate per unit of time (usually a minute) into:

• tachypnea, when breathing becomes more frequent, and 20 respiratory movements are observed per minute (for example, during hysteria, a person is able to breathe up to 80 times per minute, and this phenomenon is given the term “breathing of a cornered animal”);
• bradypnea, when the frequency of respiratory movements is much lower than normal (from 12 or lower per minute), this condition occurs with brain pathologies, hypoxia, coma, etc.

Shortness of breath is symptomatic with normal exertion, in cases of primary manifestation, for example, while walking on a straight surface with quick steps. Intense physical activity and heavy lifting are not taken into account.

When to see a doctor

If shortness of breath when walking in older people is a relatively variable and normal phenomenon, then in youth such a condition should be alarming. If this phenomenon recurs, you should definitely visit a doctor for consultation and further examination. Dyspnea is a symptom of many serious diseases, and you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. But which specialist will come to the rescue? First of all, a therapist or Family doctor. If you have previously diagnosed heart disease, it won’t hurt to make an appointment with a cardiologist, and if you have pathologies of the respiratory system, make an appointment with a pulmonologist.

Diagnostics

There are a variety of diagnostic techniques, including visual inspection patient, as well as laboratory and instrumental studies. The most common methods are:

• physical: collecting anamnesis through conversation, examination, percursion, palpation of the patient;
  examination of biomaterial – blood, urine in the laboratory;
• radiography;
• tomography (computer or magnetic resonance imaging);

When collecting anamnesis, important information is such as the characteristics of dyspnea during inspiration and expiration, its intensity, the presence/absence of a hereditary factor, chronic diseases heart and lungs, dependence of the manifestation of shortness of breath on body position and load. Thus, there are several degrees of dyspnea:

• zero: with it, significant physical activity is required to manifest respiratory failure;
• first: this one mild degree appears irregularly, for example, during intensive walking up the stairs, etc.;
• the second, medium, in which, due to breathing difficulties, slowness of movements and forced stops when walking are manifested;
• third severe degree, in which the patient is not able to walk 100 meters without stopping in a simple step;
• the extremely severe degree is manifested by the fact that shortness of breath appears even with minimal exertion and even in a calm state - this is the fourth stage.

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Shortness of breath when walking: causes and types of dyspnea

On medical language shortness of breath when walking in young and elderly people may have an additional “species” term. There are such types of dyspnea as: pulmonary, hematogenous, cardiac, central. They all have different manifestations and reasons.

Pulmonary dyspnea

Inspiratory dyspnea is a condition when fluid accumulates in the chest, inhalation is accompanied by a whistle, and the patient is unable to speak for a long time. Expiratory dyspnea is manifested by a narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi, difficulties arise when exhaling.

Hematogenous dyspnea

Hematogenous dyspnea is diagnosed in diseases of the hematopoietic system and blood. Often, the causes of shortness of breath are toxin poisoning, diabetes, liver dysfunction, and anemia. For diagnosis, a biochemical blood test is required.

Cardiac dyspnea

One of the most common types of dyspnea is shortness of breath due to heart failure and other heart pathologies, such as mitral stenosis, myxoma, ischemia, heart attack, etc. Dyspnea occurs due to circulatory disorders, leading to impaired respiratory function. Characteristic signs of cardiac dyspnea include the following syndromes:

• orthopnea, characterized by the fact that the patient requires a vertical position to facilitate well-being, which usually occurs with pathologies of the left ventricle or left atrium;
• polypnea, in which both the respiratory rate and its depth are increased, fraught with hyperventilation of the lungs, which often happens with chronic heart failure, and the patient is most comfortable in a lying position.

Long-term absence of treatment for this type of shortness of breath is manifested by the appearance of pain in the heart, pallor of the extremities, and blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle.

Central dyspnea

Central dyspnea worries patients with pathology of the central nervous system organs with damage respiratory center in the medulla oblongata (lower part of the brain). In this case, it is not any disease that causes dyspnea, but it itself provokes symptoms such as arrhythmia, decreased or increased breathing, etc.

Shortness of breath: treatment

When a diagnosis of dyspnea is made, treatment is prescribed depending on the type of dyspnea and the reasons for its occurrence. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease. For example, treatment of cardiac dyspnea involves the use of drugs that normalize the activity of the cardiovascular system, and for lung diseases it is important to eliminate the pulmonary disease.

In addition, it is important:

• quitting tobacco and alcohol;
• proper nutrition;
• drinking enough fluid (especially soft-alkaline drinks);
• breathing exercises;
• properly dosed physical activity, etc.

To get rid of shortness of breath, it is important to avoid passive smoking, so work in places where smoking is not prohibited should be changed if possible.

There is no need to sound the alarm if shortness of breath when walking plagues pregnant women (especially in the last trimester), since after childbirth the condition usually normalizes.

Oxygen therapy

Oxygen therapy is considered an effective method of relieving shortness of breath. It is indicated for pulmonary dyspnea. Oxygen therapy is indicated for all types of shortness of breath. Dyspnea is characterized by malnutrition cells of the brain, lungs and blood with oxygen, and the use of oxygen concentrators allows you to increase the level of concentration of oxygen molecules in the air and alleviate attacks of shortness of breath. However, this method does not eliminate the disease itself, in which dyspnea is only an alarming symptom.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is a good help in getting rid of shortness of breath.

1. Hawthorn: an infusion of fruits and inflorescences in equal proportions is prepared by pouring a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of raw material. Take ½ glass three times a day.
2. A similar infusion is prepared from lilac blossom in the same proportions. Take 2 tablespoons of decoction every 6 hours.
3. Goat milk is hot on an empty stomach. Add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of milk. The course of treatment is up to a month.

It is best to use folk recipes in addition to basic drug therapy.

Prevention

So that shortness of breath when walking and physical activity does not darken your life, the best prevention are workouts: walking, running, gym classes. These methods help strengthen both the entire body and the respiratory system as a whole. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with moderate physical activity and giving up bad habits that destroy the body are the first steps towards eliminating dyspnea.

For shortness of breath caused by dysfunction of internal organs, best measure prevention – timely diagnosis and treatment. Shortness of breath when walking, the causes of which are pathological in nature, is a reason for constant monitoring by a specialist. Breathe more smoothly! And be healthy!