What Are the Causes of Chronic Shortness of Breath?

Shortness of breath is for the most part a normal occurrence that happens for a very short period of time after strenuous activities or in times of extreme fear. It is not normal to experience shortness of breath, for instance, just sitting down or standing up from a bending position. Many health conditions can lead to shortness of breath, both temporarily and chronically.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that causes a chronic shortness of breath. The two diseases that fall under the category of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is a condition that causes large amount of mucus and swelling in the lung's airway. Emphysema is a disease that destroys the lung's air sacs. Most people who have COPD have both conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Allergies

• Your immune system's job is to keep away anything it feels is a threat to your body, such as viruses or bacteria. Occasionally, the immune system will defend foreign substances that are otherwise harmless; these are called allergens. Some people do not have any symptoms associated with allergies, where as others may have a host of symptoms. The most common allergy triggers are dust, pet dander, pollen and mold. Some people also have allergies to food, insect bites and jewelry. The symptoms associated with allergies are coughing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), wheezing, rash and hives.

Asthma

• The inflammation of the airways in the lungs is called asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma affects more than 23 million U.S. adults. When a person has an asthma attack, the muscles lining the airways begin to swell, which causes difficulty breathing. Asthma is triggered in most cases by common allergens (dust, pet dander, mold, and pollen), as well as cold weather and respiratory infections.

Interstitial Lung Disease

• Interstitial lung disease describes a group of disorders that cause progressive lung scarring. This scarring is irreversible, although there are medications available by prescription to slow down further damage. In the majority of people who have this disease, symptoms come on gradually, but in some, the disease may progress suddenly. Symptoms include a feeling of breathlessness during physical activity, dry cough, wheezing, chest pain, and fingernails that curve over your finger tips. As the disease progresses you may notice that you are out of breath doing normal everyday things, such as talking and eating. When breathlessness occurs, irreversible damage is present.

Nasal Polyps

• Nasal polyps are made up of the inflamed tissues that line the nasal mucosa. They are small sac-like growths that start growing in the inside roof of the nose and expand into open areas. People with nasal polyps find it difficult to breathe through their noses, thus the hallmark sign for nasal polyps is mouth breathing. Other signs and symptoms include nasal obstruction, sound congestion and runny nose. Treatment usually consists of prescription steroids, or antibiotics, but some people may require surgery in order to breathe easier. There is no guarantee that nasal polyps will not return, as they are not preventable.