Shortness of breath (Dyspnoea)

Shortness of breath, or dyspnoea, can be experienced by both children and adults, and make it feel like you cannot get enough air into your lungs.  

Breathing may also feel difficult or even uncomfortable, making it incredibly important to understand whether experiencing shortness of breath is a medical emergency or not. 

There are many times when shortness of breath isn’t a medical emergency.

However, it is important to have your health checked if you regularly experience shortness of breath as it could indicate an underlying health condition.  

For adults, we offer comprehensive lung health assessments at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals to help manage and treat your symptoms. 

For children, our experts in paediatric respiratory medicine at Evelina London Children’s Hospital can investigate the underlying cause of breathlessness in your child and provide treatment quickly.

What is shortness of breath? 

It is normal to experience shortness of breath at some point in your life. For example, performing a particularly heavy physical activity or walking briskly up a hill can result in shortness of breath. This is the type of breathlessness that naturally occurs when you exert yourself and can be controlled.  

Breathlessness that has been caused by a health condition is referred to as dyspnoea. It is often caused by an underlying lung condition.  

However, this is not the only cause of dyspnoea. Shortness of breath can also be caused by a wide range of other health conditions, all of which require treatment and regular management.

Types of dyspnoea 

There are two types of dyspnoea that you can experience — acute and chronic.  

Acute dyspnoea is shortness of breath that comes on suddenly. This type of breathlessness may require medical attention as it could be caused by an asthma attack, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or heart failure. In other instances, it could be caused by things like panic attacks.  

Chronic dyspnoea is a persistent breathlessness that can occur every day and last for long periods. You don’t have to feel breathless all the time to have chronic dyspnoea. Dyspnoea is considered chronic if it lasts for several weeks or more.

Symptoms of shortness of breath 

The most obvious symptom of dyspnoea is feeling as though you cannot get enough air when breathing. However, other symptoms can occur at the same time. These can include:  

• struggling to take deep breaths 
• feelings of anxiety or panic 
• noisy breathing  
• feeling the need to breathe more quickly, resulting in shallow breaths

Other symptoms can also be experienced depending on what the underlying cause of your shortness of breath is. Because of this, they can also vary in how long they last.  

Signs of shortness of breath in children can be different to the signs in adults. You should seek urgent medical help if your child is: 

• constantly breathing fast 
• breathing noisily or grunting when breathing out 
• flaring their nostrils when inhaling 
• drawing the muscles below their ribs in with each breath 
• breathing irregularly or stopping breathing for 20 seconds or more

Causes of shortness of breath 

While there are many possible causes for shortness of breath, only some of them can be treated to relieve your symptoms. Others will require long-term management with the appropriate treatment.  

Common causes of dyspnoea include:  

• asthma 
• chest infections 
• smoking  
• panic attacks 
• being overweight

Other less common but more serious causes of shortness of breath include:  

• lung cancer 
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 
• idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of your lungs) 
• interstitial lung disease 
• heart failure 

These health conditions need treatment and, in some cases, lifelong management.

Risk factors for shortness of breath

Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of you developing shortness of breath. These can include:  

• anaemia (where you do not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body) 
• anxiety
• asthma
• being overweight
• diabetes 
• high blood pressure
• smoking

These risk factors can make it more likely that you develop acute or chronic dyspnoea, with some of them (like smoking) also potentially leading to further health complications.

How is shortness of breath diagnosed?

Our respiratory specialists at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals provide comprehensive assessments for adults to find out the root cause of your dyspnoea. Our adult lung health assessment package at Harefield Hospital includes a range of tests and a consultation with one of our experts in respiratory medicine. 

For children, parents can select one of our paediatric respiratory consultants at Evelina London to investigate the cause of their shortness of breath and provide the best care to manage their condition.  

The combination of our multi-disciplinary team’s experience with our advanced diagnostic tests ensures we can thoroughly determine the root cause of shortness of breath, by applying a specialised approach to improve and treat symptoms. 

Some of the tests we use to diagnose breathlessness can include:  

• blood pressure checks 
• blood tests 
• chest x-rays 
• CT scans 
• exercise stress tests (where oxygen levels and heart rate are monitored while on a treadmill or stationary bike) 
• lung function tests 
• oxygen checks (this is done with a sensor placed on the tip of the finger)

These tests will look for an underlying cause of your shortness of breath while also determining its overall severity level.

Shortness of breath treatments

Treating shortness of breath will vary depending on the cause of your condition.  

Making certain lifestyle changes can make a difference to your shortness of breath. Regular exercise, for example, can help strengthen your heart and lungs, meaning they do not have to work as hard. This, therefore, reduces the likelihood of you feeling breathless.  

Relaxation techniques can also be useful. These can help if your dyspnoea is caused by anxiety by helping you stop feeling stressed or panicked while experiencing an episode. 

Sometimes, lifestyle changes are not enough on their own and a medical treatment will be recommended.  

Inhalable medications such as bronchodilators relax your airways and are used to help manage symptoms of asthma and COPD. Oxygen therapy can also be a useful treatment if your oxygen levels are too low. This is usually provided through a mask or tube in your nose. 

Our expert consultants will use the results of your diagnostic tests to ensure you receive the right treatment for your shortness of breath.  

Your treatment plan may include a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. However, we will work with you to determine which treatment will be most beneficial based on the underlying cause we identify.