There are many causes of acute and chronic respiratory problems. The treatment of this symptom basically belongs in the hands of a doctor. Breathing difficulties can occur in attacks or permanently.
What is respiratory distress?
Breathing difficulties are various disorders of the oral cavity, larynx and trachea. These disorders may have physical or psychological causes. The symptomatology of obstruction of air breathing can occur in children and adults. When breathing in, the body is permanently supplied with vital oxygen by enriching the person’s blood with it via the lungs. When we exhale, on the other hand, the body disposes of waste products, especially carbon dioxide. Both processes are vital for the functioning of all organs and cells. If the body is not sufficiently supplied with oxygen, health deficits are imminent.
Causes
The reasons for respiratory problems are very diverse. Even a cold or the flu can lead to respiratory impairments. Swelling of the nasal mucous membranes or inflammation of the throat and tonsils make it difficult to breathe without obstruction. If these bacterial or viral infections remain untreated, the infection can spread to the lungs. The consequences are serious illnesses such as bronchitis or even pneumonia. Another common cause of breathing difficulties is chronic bronchial asthma, which is classified as an allergic disease. Children can contract the dangerous croup cough, which can result in acute respiratory distress. Certain diseases of the heart, because they affect the lungs, can also cause breathing difficulties. Heart failure, for example, leads to a chronic lack of oxygen that leaves patients literally gasping for air. Another cause of respiratory distress is swallowing foreign objects or cauterizing the airways. Mental causes can result in breathing difficulties such as hyperventilation.
Diseases with this symptom
- Common cold
- Flu
- Bronchitis
- Heart attackn
- Heart failure
- Hyperacidity (acidosis)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Bronchial asthma
- Fear of heights
- Claustrophobia
- Dental phobia
- Insect venom allergy
- Allergy
- Angina pectoris
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic attacks
- Blood poisoning
Diagnosis and course
Colds are usually easy for the doctor to diagnose. The patient has a reddened throat, swollen tonsils, he sneezes and his nose runs. He has trouble breathing and often has a fever and headache. The doctor will illuminate the throat and sinuses and take a look in the ears. Then he will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope. Allergic asthma is a chronic disease and the doctor will order an allergy test and a lung function test. The pediatrician recognizes croup by the barking cough and shortness of breath. The physician recognizes the breathing problems of the heart patient by various examinations such as the electrocardiogram. But sometimes he can make the diagnosis on visual examination, because all patients with heart failure have a bluish discolored complexion. For example, if children have swallowed foreign bodies or if chemical substances have corroded their airways, the diagnosis must be made very quickly and on suspicion.
Complications
A complication of untreated respiratory problems is the threat of restriction of lung activity. The job of the lungs is to take in deoxygenated blood and release oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation. If a person’s breathing is disturbed, the lungs cannot work effectively. As a result, not enough oxygen reaches the cells of the organs. If left untreated, this undersupply leads to sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue, headaches and damage to the internal organs. The body has to expend more energy than intended for breathing, which can lead to weight loss. There is a reduction in physical and mental resilience. The cardiovascular system is excessively stressed. Due to the extra work of the heart, there is a risk of overloading this organ. The smallest blood vessels – the capillaries – are not sufficiently supplied with oxygen and atrophy.The consequences are sensory disturbances, e.g. in fingers and toes, and poorly healing wounds. If the smallest blood vessels in the brain die off, there is a risk of stroke. Chronic lung damage can occur as a result of dyspnea, further exacerbating shortness of breath. Untreated respiratory problems can cause hyperinflation of the lungs. In this case, dead spaces – irreparable damage – form in the organ, and lung tissue dies. This leads to an increasing reduction in lung volume. In the worst case, untreated dyspnea leads to collapse of the cardiovascular system and death by suffocation.
When should you see a doctor?
Breathing problems that persist for several days or worsen within a relatively short period of time should always be clarified by a physician. This is especially true if there are previous diseases of the lungs or cardiovascular system, or if the complaints are accompanied by concomitant symptoms. Fever and headache indicate a serious underlying disease or an allergy – a visit to the doctor is urgently required here and should be made quickly due to the rapid progression of many lung diseases. If dizziness and feelings of lightheadedness are also present, there may already be an oxygen deficiency. In this case, an emergency physician should be alerted as soon as possible. In the event of unconsciousness, sudden pain in the lungs or chest area and feelings of suffocation, action must also be taken quickly. There may be a serious illness, such as untreated pneumonia, which can lead to the patient’s death if left untreated. If breathing problems are treated inadequately or too late, overinflation of the lungs can occur. This causes cavities to form within the lung tissue, leading to tissue death and, in extreme cases, organ failure. Problems with breathing should therefore generally be clarified by a doctor. Especially if the cause is unknown, there is a rapid deterioration in health as a result of the symptoms, or the body is already weakened by a previous illness.
Treatment and therapy
Respiratory problems are a symptom and the doctor must find out the cause before treatment. For the simple cold, home remedies such as teas, mint extracts or homeopathic medicines often help. For a more severe flu, the doctor often treats it with antibiotics to prevent the bacteria from spreading to the bronchial tubes or lungs. In the case of acute bronchitis or pneumonia, treatment often takes place in the hospital, as these could become life-threatening. The most feared complication of pneumonia is pleural effusion. This is when parts of the lungs fill with infectious fluid. The patient is treated with antibiotics, oxygenation, and IV fluids. In severe cases, the lungs must be punctured or operated on. Heart failure requires complex drug treatment or surgery. Many of the patients are waiting for a donor heart for transplantation. In the case of swallowing foreign bodies, parents must already provide first aid to prevent the child from choking. Poisoning and chemical burns belong immediately in the hands of a doctor.
Outlook and prognosis
Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) is often a sign of serious illness. They sometimes cause panic states and pain. Therefore, diagnosis as early as possible is necessary. It should be accompanied by emergency management. Accurate diagnosis of dyspnea depends on the type and severity of the causative disease. Massive dyspnea exposes the organism to a marked lack of oxygen. This deficiency can generate organ damage and other serious consequences. Minor respiratory problems are often associated with end-stage inflammation. They must be clarified before threatening conditions develop. After comprehensive elimination of the corresponding underlying disease, the respiratory problems disappear. If chronic underlying diseases occur, a continuous course of respiratory problems is to be expected. If the breathing problems start during sleep, difficult breathing or respiratory arrest may be the trigger. Respiratory cessations can become life-threatening over prolonged periods, so medical treatment is essential. In the case of difficult breathing, both the oxygen supply and the individual sleeping position should be checked. In this way alone, breathing problems can ideally be eliminated.Because breathing problems lead to an undersupply of the organism with vital oxygen, the heart and lungs can be damaged if left untreated. As a result, muscle problems and psychogenic clinical pictures such as panic attacks and/or anxiety can occur.
Prevention
Vitamins and spending time in fresh air reduce the risk of catching a cold, and flu shots are available. Smoking does lasting damage to the respiratory tract. Never leave small children unattended and always keep cleaning products and other chemicals under lock and key.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Mild respiratory problems can be treated with various home remedies and self-measures. First, drinking helps relieve the initial shortness of breath and clear the throat of mucus and possible foreign bodies. Tea made from mint leaves, lemon balm, goose cinquefoil or lavender is particularly effective and clears the airways, at least in the short term. Similarly effective are chamomile steam baths, which moisten the mucous membranes and relax the bronchial tubes. Alternatively, sufferers can use nasal douches or cough expectorants, among other things, to relieve respiratory symptoms. A moist, warm compress relaxes the respiratory muscles and, like steam baths, is particularly effective for asthma and similar respiratory diseases. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle can help strengthen the respiratory system and immune system and prevent respiratory distress in the future. In cases of severe breathing difficulties, breathing should be relaxed by slow, controlled breathing. Affected persons with respiratory distress should move into the goalkeeper or carriage position to ensure optimal oxygenation of the airways. If this does not relieve the symptoms and intense shortness of breath develops, an emergency physician should be alerted. Even in the case of regular problems with breathing, which can only be remedied to a limited extent by home remedies and self-measures, a visit to the doctor is recommended.