Severe 24/7 suffocation feeling (urge to yawn)

Posted by matheusprado @matheusprado, May 10 8:53am

Hello everyone. I have been experiencing shortness of breath that started completely out of nowhere (05/21/2025), one year ago. Since then, it has been present 24/7. It has progressively worsened over time and is currently severe. I do not feel difficulty inhaling or exhaling, but rather a surreal sensation of suffocation that makes me yawn or try to yawn all day long. When I yawn, there is partial relief for about half a minute, and then the suffocating sensation returns.

Since the beginning, I stopped all physical activity. However, when walking, I do not feel any worsening of the sensation. In the sixth month, on a single occasion, I coughed up blood, which made me very worried about acute/chronic pulmonary embolism. However, I have undergone dozens of tests and nothing has been found so far. My doctor assured me that the cause is not cardiopulmonary.

Has anyone else been in the same situation? Especially regarding this type of shortness of breath and the constant need to yawn and sigh.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

denzie | @denzie | May 10 6:36pm

If you've already seen a pulmonologist for a pulmonary function test get a second opinion on it at a medical teaching school.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 10 7:24pm

@gabrielm Do you think you can help with this question?

catsmeow1959 | @catsmeow1959 | May 11 7:28am

I’ve had the same thing for years and was told it is anxiety. I don’t feel anxious but I think it may have something to do with the chemicals in the brain. My doctor put me on Zoloft years ago and it got rid of it for awhile and had to keep increasing my dosage as years went by. Right now I’m still on Zoloft but my doctor has added a calming anitihistamine, Hydroxyzine. It has helped. Hope you find help soon as I know how uncomfortable this is.

Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | May 11 9:18pm

Sure @sueinmn.
Hi @matheusprado, I'm sorry you're dealing with this! I know it's scary especially since it's mysterious without an apparent cause. There's is a long standing discussion on this very issue on this thread; https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mysterious-shortness-of-breath/

Check it out when you get a chance.

Have you gotten down to the bottom of the blood coughing issue? I would pursue that further; like maybe consider getting an endoscopy to see if it's esophagus or GI related. Have you gotten blood test done and had your blood oxygen levels measured? I'd consider a sleep study and lung function test. Maybe you've done all these things, but if not, these would help rule things out.

One breathing method that has helped me deal with my own air hunger issue is the Buteyko Breathing Method; a method of breathing where you slow and reduce breathing in order to reduce chronic hyperventilation and re-regulate breathing. It's a longer-term solution but it has short term relief exercises as well.