There are millions of people worldwide that suffer from breathing problems; many different things may cause these problems. For those who do suffer from breathing problems, they can easily tell you that something as simple as breathing – that people take advantage of on a daily basis, can become an extremely scary situation, especially when not properly handled.
Upper and Lower Respiratory Issues
There are many different breathing problems, the ones that are the most common are associated with upper respiratory issues which generally include such items as:
- Stuffy and/or runny nose
- Blocked nasal passageways
- Poor appetite
- Fever
- Excessive coughing
Lower respiratory breathing problems include:
- Wheezing
- Shallow coughing
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
Allergies and Infections
Allergies, viral and bacterial infections are the common causes for these type of breathing problems and at times, the affects may be long-term whilst others may just experience breathing problems through the remainder of the infection. Asthma is a more long-term breathing issue that also affects millions of people worldwide. Some people’s asthma may be directly linked to their level of excursion and activity while others may get asthma flares ups due to environmental irritations.
COPD and Chronic Bronchitis
All of these breathing problems can be diagnosed properly by going to see a professional ear, nose and throat specialist. Constant breathing problems that are not taken care of or diagnosed properly can lead to more serious issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which can lead to excessive lung scarring and diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Spirometry
There is a wide variety of tests that are utilized to help doctors diagnose and recognize the various breathing problems that people may be experiencing. These tests may be done during a physical exam or may be additional testing if a regular physician noticed that one was having difficulty breathing during a regular examination. Spirometry is a lung functions test that is most commonly used, which measures that amount of air that someone can inhale and how much is exhaled – at what speed.
For any individuals that may be experiencing shortness of breath, or being winded quickly through minimal exercise may want to make an appointment to visit a breathing specialist. If you are noticing different breathing patterns, try to take note of when they occur and what seems to exacerbate the situation. No one ever wants to take the chance of having an asthma attack or bronchial flare up when the situation can be properly maintained and avoided to begin with.
