Menopause & Shortness of Breath Information

Shortness of breath may occur during perimenopause and menopause because of anxiety attacks, according to Perimenopausesymptoms.org, as well as other contributing factors that are apt to arise at this time in a woman's life.

Anxiety Attacks

• Women who are menopausal may experience anxiety attacks for the first time, which can be the result of fluctuating hormones, as well as other factors including stress, fatigue and other psychological and cultural pressures.

Hormones

• On the other hand, a woman already may have anxiety problems, which become worse during this period of life because of extreme hormonal imbalances. Anxiety often manifests in shortness of breath.

Asthma

• Shortness of breath can also result if a woman is experiencing menopause-induced asthma. Dr. Y.S. Prakash of the Mayo Clinic is studying the effects of sex hormones on asthma. Dr. Prakash, an anesthesiologist, is a member of a research team with his wife, Dr. Christina Pabelick, also an anesthesiologist.

Effects

• Prakash and Pabelick are trying to establish if sex hormones make asthma better or worse as a female enters puberty, while pregnant and during menopause.

Sleep

• Perimenopausal and menopausal women may endure sleep disruptions, resulting in an inability to concentrate during the day as well as suffering from fatigue because they are awakened at night due to coughing, wheezing, a tightness in their chest and shortness of breath.