SHORTNESS OF BREATH, ACUTE
Description and Possible Medical Problems
Acute shortness of breath can be a frightening event for people of any age. If you’re under 50, or are older and in pretty good condition, and you don’t have any other symptoms, your shortness of breath might not be serious. It could be the result of a sudden emotional shock, an anxiety attack, or recent exposure to a substance you’re allergic to. When a person who is ordinarily in good health suddenly becomes short of breath, it can be a sign of acute pneumonia or bronchitis.
An anxiety attack can occur anywhere, but especially in a crowded area, in an elevator, or during a stressful situation. In addition to shortness of breath, you may have heart palpitations and numbness in your hands or feet.
Treatment
If you suddenly become short of breath due to an anxiety attack and you have no other symptoms, it’s a good idea to rest quietly for a few hours. To prevent future attacks, biofeedback can be helpful.
Basically, biofeedback is an exercise that helps you learn how to relax. You are instructed in the technique by a physical therapist, a psychologist, or a biofeedback specialist. First, special electrodes are attached to your forehead. These electrodes, which are not painful, are hooked up to a machine that measures your muscle tension, which is reflected in sounds that are emitted by the machine or on a monitor that measures your tension in waves, much like an EKG does. For instance, if you are feeling stressed, the machine will respond by emitting a series of fast, high-pitched beeps; if you’re relaxed, the beeps are slower. Once you relax your muscles—and therefore decrease your tension—the machine responds in kind. In essence, the machine teaches you how to relax by controlling the amount of tension that you’re holding in your muscles. For a referral to a biofeedback specialist, you can look in the Yellow Pages or call your local hospital.
If you think your shortness of breath was caused by an allergen, make sure someone else removes it from your immediate vicinity. Relax until you can catch your breath.
If however, your throat begins to close during an acute allergic response, you will need immediate medical attention. Your doctor may give you the drugs epinephrine via injection.
Special Mention for the Elderly
In people who are frail and elderly, an acute case of shortness of breath can occur from a heart attack, an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or emphysema. If you notice these signals in an elderly relative, call 911 or get her to the emergency room immediately.
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