Shortness of Breath: Causes

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) can be a normal response to exertion or a sign of an underlying heart, lung, or other medical condition, depending on how it appears.

Expected, Non-Concerning Causes

Feeling out of breath during intense exercise, at high altitude, or when significantly out of shape is a normal physiological response, not a medical problem.

Heart-Related Causes

Shortness of breath can be an early or ongoing sign of heart conditions, including heart failure and coronary artery disease, particularly when it appears with minimal exertion, while lying flat, or alongside chest pain or swelling in the legs.

Lung-Related Causes

Conditions such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections are common causes, often distinguishable by accompanying cough, wheeze, or fever.

Other Causes

Anemia, anxiety and panic attacks, obesity, and deconditioning can all cause a persistent feeling of breathlessness unrelated to a specific heart or lung disease.

When It's an Emergency

Sudden or severe shortness of breath, especially with chest pain, blue lips or fingertips, confusion, or fainting, needs emergency care immediately rather than waiting to see if it improves.