Shortness of Breath

Struggling to breathe for no apparent reason (like intense exercise) is a frightening sensation that may signal a heart or lung condition. Andrew R. Freedman, MD, Gichel Watson, RPAC, and the team at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC quickly determine the cause of your shortness of breath and provide conservative and integrative care that treats the underlying problem and restores normal breathing. They have two offices in Monroe, New Jersey, and Evanston, Wyoming, but they often treat patients through telemedicine. To schedule an appointment, call or use online booking today.

What causes shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) refers to difficulty breathing. You may feel like you can’t take a deep breath or catch your breath. You could face a frightening struggle to inhale any air.

Your difficulty breathing could arise from many issues that aren’t serious. But recurrent or severe shortness of breath signals a health condition, and difficulty breathing is the top symptom of heart and lung problems.

When shortness of breath arises from a respiratory condition, it could be caused by:

• Asthma (difficulty breathing due to narrowed and inflamed airways)
• COVID-19 (viral infection leading to lung inflammation and damage)
• Pneumonia (air sac infection and inflammation)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Interstitial lung disease (progressive scarring)
• Sarcoidosis (areas of inflammation in your lungs)
• Bronchiectasis (excess mucus in widened airways)
• Nontuberculous mycobacteria (bacterial infection)
• Pleural effusion (fluid buildup)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

If your shortness of breath happens suddenly and you have other symptoms like chest pain or dizziness, it could be a heart attack that needs emergency medical care.

How is shortness of breath evaluated?

The team at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC begins by learning about other symptoms you may have that suggest a specific problem. For example, they ask about wheezing, a fever, a cough, whether your cough is dry or brings up mucus, and whether you can breathe better when sitting up.

The next step may involve breathing tests and pulmonary function tests, which you can do through telemedicine. A chest X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound is also essential for diagnosing many lung conditions. 

How is shortness of breath treated?

After identifying the root cause of your difficulty breathing, the team at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC, creates an integrative care plan for relieving your symptoms and treating the underlying condition.

Many conditions require medications to fight a bacterial infection, reduce inflammation, or eliminate excess fluids. You may need oxygen therapy or respiratory rehabilitation.

The team at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC provides conservative care through telemedicine. If you need specialized treatments, they care for you in person at one of their offices.

If you don’t live near an office, they help you find a specialist and continue to advocate for your health. If you have shortness of breath, call or use online booking today to schedule a telemedicine visit.