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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 8 hours ago | Replies (3355)Comment receiving replies
Hey guys I’ve read all of your posts and I relate to all of you. I started having this problem for the first time over two months ago and it hasn’t stopped. In the beginning it was very difficult to take a deep breath because I didn’t know what was happening. I still don’t know what’s happening but yawning has been the only thing that helps me get a satisfying deep breath although that’s not always the case. My blood work is good and my heart was slightly elevated but they said it might’ve been stress. My lungs are also good. I’ve had some heart palpitations sometimes which I can’t explain, they come and go but my main problem is breathing because as you well know, it’s quite annoying at times. The first two weeks all I kept thinking about it breathing. Taking that deep successful breath only to have to repeat the process after a few seconds/minutes. After I got checked out they told me that it could be stress/anxiety but I don’t think so. Although I’ve never been diagnosed I have been depressed when I was younger. Luckily every problem that I’ve had in my life, I’ve dealt with. I never ‘bury’ things in my mind and forget they didn’t happen. I’ve come along way from not wanting to live anymore to feel peace. All of the things I’ve been through, things that should’ve broke me, made me stronger and I’m proud of myself to making it this far and seeing a change in myself that I never thought possible. I’ve felt really good this past year compared to previous years, so I don’t really understand how my breathing problem could be tied to something psychological. I’m not disregarding it, it could be that but I just don’t believe so. Before going to the doctor I suspected it could be GERD so I told my doctor and they thought the same but it’s obviously not the case since there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t struggled to take a deep breath. I wouldn’t really call it struggle cause I’ve learned to just keep taking deep breaths but it’s not normal. I don’t want to keep doing it, I don’t want to keep thinking about something that I’m not supposed to think about(breathing). I really hope someone has found a solution to this problem and would be kind enough to share it.
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Someone on this discussion has recently suggested that there is a condition called "sighing dyspnea" - when all other causes like asthma, emphysema, heart disease, infection, etc have been ruled out, and all tests are "in normal range", maybe it's time to consider this.
Remember that there is a "chicken and egg" effect going on here when you experience shortness of breath and become panicky - is the SOB making you anxious, or is anxiety causing SOB. Either way, it may be time to try some deep breathing exercises to get some control. Here are links to a couple you can try - we also call it "belly breathing" or diaphragmatic breathing. MOst of these exercises can be done while at your desk, watching TV, even riding in the car or bus.
https://www.wehale.life/health/anxiety-stress-shortness-of-breath-this-simple-breathing-exercise-actually-helps/
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-breathing#breathing-exercises
These are non-drug interventions to try - after doing them for 4 weeks (and I have underlying lung issues) I have reduced episodes from several per day to one or two at most. Also, consider where you are/what you are doing when the episodes occur - I have found that any position which potentially compresses my lungs, like slouching, makes my breathing much worse.
Give this a try for a week or two and see if it helps.
Sue