9 Causes of Shortness of Breath that Often Occur, Don't Ignore!

Kapanlagi.com - The cause of shortness of breath can occur due to various factors, including being a sign of illness. This condition causes sufferers to have difficulty breathing, feeling heavy when breathing, which is associated with respiratory problems. Shortness of breath can occur in anyone, including attacking healthy individuals due to certain conditions.

Shortness of breath is also known as dyspnea, which occurs when the body breathes abnormally at a rate below average. As reported by medicinenet.com, shortness of breath can be experienced due to problems in the respiratory tract, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Meanwhile, sudden shortness of breath that occurs in adults is generally associated with heavy activities such as sports or others, causing difficulty in breathing.

In addition, shortness of breath is quite often a symptom of various specific health disorders such as asthma, lung, or heart problems. Shortness of breath due to certain diseases has its own symptoms and characteristics that can be felt by sufferers. That is why it is important to understand the causes of shortness of breath that often occur.

The causes of shortness of breath are listed in several points below. To further complete, see the following review related to the causes of shortness of breath that have been summarized by kapanlagi.com from various sources.

1. Overweight

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The first cause of shortness of breath can occur because the body is overweight. This condition is also known as obesity, which causes various specific health disorders, including feeling heavy breathing. Quoted from liputan6.com, obesity is associated with shortness of breath because the ideal weight causes breathing to feel heavy.

Because the weight can cause fat accumulation in the abdomen and chest, which hinders the work of respiratory muscle and causes shortness of breath. That is why it is important to maintain an ideal weight to prevent various specific health disorders such as shortness of breath.

2. Problems with the Heart

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Shortness of breath can occur due to problems with the heart. According to health.harvard.edu, shortness of breath is associated with cardiovascular problems. Shortness of breath can occur suddenly and unexpectedly, especially after engaging in strenuous activities that cause the heart to work harder.

Shortness of breath due to heart problems can occur with several conditions such as heart rhythm problems, narrowed or stiff aortic valves, heart attacks, and heart failure. Further examination is needed to treat shortness of breath properly.

3. Disorders of the Lungs

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Another cause of shortness of breath can be due to disorders of the lungs. In many cases, shortness of breath is closely related to problems with the lungs, which serve as the main respiratory organ. According to health.harvard.edu, respiratory problems such as coughing can be a sign of lung disorders that cause symptoms of shortness of breath.

In addition, problems caused by blockage in the pulmonary arteries can lead to blood clots that hinder oxygen from reaching the lungs. This condition can cause shortness of breath in some people with lung disorders. As a result, several symptoms may arise such as dizziness, palpitations, and coughing.

4. Asma

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Shortness of breath is one of the symptoms that arise due to asthma. This condition can also be the most common cause of shortness of breath. Because when asthma flares up, the sufferer will experience heavy breathing due to inflammation in the airways. As a result, when asthma flares up, it will cause gasping for breath, even faster and shallower. Several triggers for asthma flare-ups, such as cold air, dust, and heavy physical activity, should be avoided if you have a history of asthma.

5. Allergies

The cause of shortness of breath can be experienced by some people due to certain allergic reactions. As it is known, some people may experience allergies to food, objects, items, or others that cause symptoms such as itching, sneezing, coughing, and even shortness of breath.

In this case, the relation to feeling heavy breathing can be experienced because excessive histamine reactions produced by the body during allergies can cause shortness of breath, sneezing, watery eyes, and itching. Further examination is needed to treat shortness of breath due to certain allergies.

6. Airway Obstruction

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Airway obstruction can cause shortness of breath. Airway obstruction is also known as respiratory obstruction in medical terms. This condition can occur due to several factors, such as foreign objects, food particles, or certain fluids. As a result, the air in the airway is disrupted, causing shortness of breath. Further examination is needed to treat shortness of breath caused by airway obstruction.

7. Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, can also cause shortness of breath. This condition can occur in the body because low blood pressure usually affects the heart. As a result, the amount of blood in the body is not sufficient to carry oxygen to all organs, causing certain health problems. According to liputan6.com, serious low blood pressure can cause shortness of breath. Further examination is needed to treat shortness of breath caused by low blood pressure.

8. Anemia

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The next cause of shortness of breath can be experienced by the body due to anemia. Anemia is a health problem that occurs when the body lacks red blood cells, causing organs to not receive enough oxygen. This condition can also cause the respiratory system to feel heavy, triggering shortness of breath. Other symptoms of anemia may also arise such as dizziness, fatigue, and weakness.

9. Experiencing Hernia

The next cause of shortness of breath can arise due to experiencing hernia. Hernia is a health disorder that occurs due to the weakness of body tissues that are not strong enough to hold organs inside. The type of hernia that causes shortness of breath is hiatal or hiatus hernia related to the diaphragm system. According to liputan6.com, hiatus hernia causes disturbances in the diaphragm due to pressure in the abdominal and chest areas, which affects the hiatus part of the diaphragm.

So those are the 9 common causes of shortness of breath that can become symptoms of certain diseases. To overcome shortness of breath, you can do simple things like relaxing neck and shoulder muscles, leaning against a wall, breathing through the mouth, and taking deep breaths.

(kpl/nlw)