Shortness of Breath: Causes, Chest Pain & Health Risks

What causes shortness of breath when walking, biking, or lying down? From low blood oxygen levels to vitamin insufficiencies, identifying the triggers for respiratory distress in teens and the elderly is essential.

Couple holding hands while walking along path

Can Exercise Help With Shortness of Breath?

Shortness of breath can range from the merely uncomfortable to the potentially dangerous. If you have found yourself gasping for breath after climbing a few flights of stairs, or while carrying heavy packages, you may simply be out of shape.

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man who has a headache

What Are the Effects of Low Blood Oxygen Levels?

Blood carries oxygen to every cell in your body to allow them to live and function properly. Low blood oxygen levels -- known as hypoxemia -- typically refer to an oxygen level in your arteries less than 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

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Break from running

Vitamin Insufficiency & Shortness of Breath

Vitamins regulate multiple aspects of your health, and an insufficiency in any of the several essential vitamins has adverse health effects. One possible sign of a vitamin insufficiency is shortness of breath, which can develop due to a number of vitamin deficiency related-disorders.

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Drugs That Cause Shortness of Breath

Having shortness of breath is an extremely scary symptom that can be fatal, according to Cancerpage.com. Shortness of breath, in addition to wheezing, can be a side effect of many drugs, thus canceling out the effects of the drug.

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runners training in the mountain

Abnormal Heart Beat and Shortness of Breath

A heartbeat consists of a two-part pump action that takes less than one second, according to the Texas Heart Institute. Normally, the heart follows a distinct beating pattern that properly sends blood through the blood vessels and supplies the body tissues with oxygen.

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female doctor examining an x-ray

Causes of Shortness of Breath When Lying Down

Shortness of breath while laying down -- a symptom medical professionals call orthopnea -- is concerning as it often suggests the presence of a serious underlying disease. Orthopnea can result from disorders of the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal system. It can also occur with obesity.

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How to Clear a Child's Chest Cold

Your child's stuffy nose and mild cough can travel downwards through the respiratory system and transform into a chest cold in no time. The congestion and breathing difficulties that are often symptoms of a chest cold might be scary, but in most cases are manageable at home.

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Athletic woman drinking water

Causes of Shortness of Breath With Exercise

Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, may cause you to feel that you can't get enough air in your lungs, or that you are suffocating. You may also experience a tightening sensation in your chest.

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Woman with allergy over flowers

Does an Allergy Cause You to Be Short of Breath?

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of asthma, but in some cases, allergies can cause asthma-like symptoms. Allergic rhinitis, hay fever and the body’s response to exercise can all result in shortness of breath.

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tired woman runner have a rest after running hard

Shortness of Breath in Teens

If you've noticed that your teen has a hard time breathing or is huffing and puffing after very little activity, it can be quite scary. There are many things that could be causing your teen to be short of breath, but medical attention is essential because some causes can be quite serious, according to the FamilyDoctor.

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Young woman sitting on the pavement with shopping bags

What Causes Shortness of Breath and Fatigued Muscles?

Shortness of breath and fatigued, or tired muscles may be symptoms of a health condition. If your symptoms persist, cause you concern or interfere with your activities of daily living, contact your doctor for a medical evaluation.

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Smoking & Shortness of Breath

Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 different chemicals, 50 of which are carcinogenic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. These chemicals cause both short-term and long-term damage to the body, especially the lungs. Some smokers experience shortness of breath due to lung damage.

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Nurse helping elderly woman walk down hallway

What Are the Causes of Shortness of Breath in the Elderly?

Attributing shortness of breath to old age is a common misconception and could be dangerous if it delays medical evaluation of this important symptom. Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the risks for conditions that cause difficulty breathing, as do the use of some over-the-counter pain medications.

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Pediatrician examining little girl

What Are the Causes of Shortness of Breath in Children?

When a child is short of breath, it can be difficult for him to get the oxygen his body needs to operate correctly. Symptoms may include nostril flaring, grunting and rapid or shallow breaths. MayoClinic.com warns parents to take breathing problems seriously, no matter the cause.

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Shortness of Breath & Chest Pain After Exercising

Any number of conditions can cause you to be short of breath and experience chest pain after you exercise. According to Medline Plus, some of those causes may be life-threatening, while others are not as critical.

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nurse with stethoscope and senior woman at clinic

Electrolytes & Shortness of Breath

Most people experience shortness of breath, a condition medically known as dyspnea, periodically usually due to factors like physical exertion.

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