Take a deep breath! 

If you suffer from breathing difficulties or shortness of breath, what does this mean?

Depending on your situation, you may have:

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• asthma (may be linked to allergies or GERD)

• allergies (seasonal pollen/dust, or pet dander, moulds, foods)

• chronic sinusitis (possibly an underlying fungal issue or a food sensitivity)

• reflux/GERD, "gastroesophageal reflux disease" (especially if you get asthma worse after eating or going to bed), 

• anxiety / panic attacks 

• congestive heart failure (a chronic condition - are you winded after walking up stairs?)

• COPD: chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema (often related to smoke exposure)

• Infection: including influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis (often accompanied by a fever/chills, body aches)

• Other chronic issues: anemia, hyperthyroidism, metabolic dysfunction/obesity/poor exercise tolerance/pregnancy

 

If this is a new symptom, please make sure you seek medical attention immediately to rule out emergent conditions or infections (like influenza, pneumonia, and bronchitis - these are often accompanied by a fever/chills, body aches)

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You breathe in order to exchange air - inhaling to bring more oxygen into your lungs where it is picked up by red blood cells, to provide energy needed for the function of your liver, brain, heart (these 3 have the highest demand for oxygen) and other organs/muscles in your body. Reduced oxygen intake ("hypoxia") also leads to inflammation! 

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Many of the conditions above involve chronic inflammation. While acute inflammation is an important part of recovery from injury or infection, chronic inflammation can create other problems and reduce your body's ability to heal from a new injury or infection. Learn more about how to build a healthy immune system.

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Reduce the inflammation load on your body - start with these 3 tips: