Breathing is essential for our survival. It is what we need to live, grow and develop. If we are not able to breathe properly, we definitely won’t be able to grow and develop properly. Without oxygen, we can’t burn the food that we eat and extract the energy from it. We can live without water and food for a week, but can’t survive without breathing for more than a few minutes. A normal human being requires 550 liters of oxygen every day. Imagine being able to only consumed half of that amount of oxygen due to a breathing problem. Yes, that’s a serious issue that is mostly left unnoticed.
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There are a number of reasons that can cause you difficulty in breathing. It could be an infection, a respiratory illness or a more severe underlying health condition. It could also be a symptom of something extremely wrong that’s happening inside your body. Therefore, it's important to be mindful of your apparently ‘small’ breathing problem, as it could be an indication of a future disaster.
Here are some of the most common causes of respiratory and breathing problem that will help you get a better perspective of its severity and decide the correct treatment for it :
- Cardiovascular problems
Breathing is done by our lungs, but it has a lot to do with our heart and cardiovascular system. When our blood pumped through our heart is not able to absorb as much oxygen as it needs, as a response our we can experience shortness of breath and heavy breathing. It could be an indication that your heart health is not up to the mark. There can be a variety of reasons for it, ranging from an infection in the cardiovascular system, a blood clot that’s stopping your blood to flow properly, a problem of hypertension, a sign of sepsis, damage to our heart, malformations and other underlying heart-related diseases. - Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which our breathing stops during our sleep hundreds of times without us knowing that it did. It can deprive us off from the proper oxygen levels and we can experience symptoms upon waking up. One most noticeable symptom is a headache and difficulty in breathing just after waking up in the morning. - Obstructions
The air that we breathe needs a freeway or a highway to reach our lungs, and it’s important that it doesn’t get any obstructions even inside our lungs. That’s why any obstruction in the respiratory tract or in our lungs can cause breathing problems. It will directly reduce the oxygen levels in our body causing us to feel dizzy. An obstruction in the respiratory tract can cause burning sensation, fever, and an irritation in the throat and chest. Smoking also causes tar to deposit in the tiny pores of our lungs where the oxygen gets absorbed. When they are blocked due to tar deposits, we can experience difficulty in breathing as a result. - Depression
Stress, anxiety, and depression are the kind of mental conditions that literally impacts the rest of our body. It can trigger physical responses in our body including heavy breathing, sweating and altered heart rate which can result in shortness of breath and feeling oxygen deprived. As a result, it can cause our blood pressure to rise, dizziness due to oxygen deficiency or fainting due to hyperventilation. - Infections
Infections related to upper and lower respiratory tract can cause breathing problems. Upper respiratory system infections may include bronchitis, sinus blockage, cold and flu, while lower respiratory system infections may include pulmonary infections such as pneumonia. - Lack of activity and stamina
Lack of physical activity as a result of sedentary and unfit lifestyle can trigger breathing problems. Our stamina reduces as our lungs aren’t used to work hard and absorb more oxygen. Exercising regularly can cause us to breathe harder, but it helps us get our body adapted to it and improve our stamina. - Respiratory problems
A number of different respiratory problems can be a cause of shortness of breath and breathing problems as a result of inflammation. In case of asthma, an inflammatory condition makes it difficult for us to breathe. Similarly, allergies can also cause difficulty in breathing as a symptom. - Other causes
The list of breathing problems can go on. However, it greatly varies from person to person and their level of susceptibility. Some other common causes may include dust allergy, dust mites, certain triggering scents, smoke and fumes, sensitivity to pet danger and pollen, and the growing air pollution in our environment.
Disclaimer
Please note that individual results will vary from person to person. All and any information and statements contained in this article are not intended to replace your doctor’s advice or treatment. We do not provide medical advice, prescription, or diagnose illness. Therefore, our views and nutritional statements are not intended to replace your doctor’s medical advice. If you have a health concern or condition, see your doctor before starting anything on your own.