What are the symptoms of respiratory problems?
Breathing problems can take several different forms, but you should never ignore them. Some common respiratory symptoms include:
- Rapid breathing
- Shallow breathing
- Deep breathing
- Troubled or difficult breathing
Whenever you experience a significant change in your breathing patterns, you should schedule an appointment for an exam. Some symptoms occur on their own, while infections or dehydration accompany others.
What causes respiratory problems?
There are some lung issues caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. In most other cases, environmental factors are to blame. Some of the known causes of lung disease include:
- Smoking
- Exposure to asbestos
- Excessive air pollution
- Presence of radon
When you seek treatment for respiratory issues, your doctor assesses your breathing and may conduct additional testing to look for the source of the problem. Providing your physician with any information concerning your exposure to known lung irritants can help determine the exact cause of your condition.
Can stress cause respiratory problems?
You may not immediately make a connection between stress and lung issues, but emotional distress can lead to difficulty breathing. When you become anxious or upset, your muscles tighten, including the ones that help you breathe.
Restricted breathing causes you to try harder to get sufficient oxygen into your lungs. That makes the situation worse and can lead to panic.
If you regularly experience shortness of breath as a direct result of stress, it’s important to learn coping skills that can help you regain control. Some people find it helpful to systematically tighten and release their muscles, beginning at their head and continuing down to their feet. Others use meditation and visualization exercises to reduce stress.
Troubled breathing can indicate many different respiratory problems. Scheduling an appointment with Apex Medical Center is the best way to get to the bottom of the issue and find a path back to clear and easy breathing.
