What can be the cause of shortness of breath?

Everyone sometimes gets short of breath during intense exertion. But some people become short of breath with the slightest exertion or at rest. How does this happen?

Shortness of breath can have many causes. Among the less dangerous, more common causes, we mainly include anxiety attacks in which breathing too quickly (hyperventilation) will cause the feeling of shortness of breath. These people especially need to be calmed down and breathe more calmly.

But shortness of breath can also occur in serious conditions and is often accompanied by another complaint, for example: asthma and wheezing, pneumonia and cough, lung cancer and coughing up blood, heart failure and swelling of the ankles, myocardial infarction and chest pain and finally anemia and paleness. skin.

Sometimes the associated complaints do not occur. It goes without saying that you should urgently contact your doctor if you suspect these serious conditions.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025