Can Anxiety Cause Shortness Of Breath For Days? Dyspnea Symptoms
Many people have reported having sudden short breathedness, which is also known as dyspnea. One of the most believable causes behind this problem is Anxiety. It is very important to know how to tell if shortness of breath comes from anxiety or lung problems. Dyspnea can worsen if it is not treated properly. To make it clear, in this article, we have to discuss ‘can anxiety cause shortness of breath for days or not?’ We will also try to understand how we can avoid or eliminate both the issues for better mental and respiratory health. Let’s get into the details.
How to Tell If Shortness of Breath Is From Anxiety?
What is Shortness of Breath?
Shortness of breath takes place when your body is not breathing enough oxygen and exhaling more carbon dioxide. Chest tightness and breathing faster are some of the immediate sensations that occur in dyspnea. This shows that your lungs are unable to breathe properly. Shortness of breath is not a disease but a condition caused by an underlying disease. It is mostly a mere exhaustion but sometimes people can feel they are almost hungry for air. Dyspnea must be treated immediately because if it is neglected for a long period of time, it can go from being mild to becoming extremely severe.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the troublesome feeling one goes through when they are sad, tense, worried, nervous, and even scared. It happens very normally in humans, as it is a reaction to the things and situations that are beyond one’s control. You can usually treat anxiety by doing therapies and consulting your doctor for quick remedies. But sometimes anxiety can lead to some serious issues like short breathedness. Irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, sleeping issues, and headaches are a few more of its outcomes. Let us understand in detail why dyspnea happens due to anxiety and how do you know shortness of breath is bad.
How Can Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath?
Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system by making your brain perceive threats. SNS responds with something called the fight-or-flight response. Many organs start reacting in this response as the stress hormone gets activated. The first thing that will happen is that the heart starts beating too fast because of adrenaline released throughout the system. It will need more oxygen, and for that, you start breathing faster, shallower, and most importantly, shorter. This will lead to CO² imbalance in the blood, which will constrict the vessels and tighten your muscles. Both anxiety and dyspnea worsen in this process, but it is meant to last for a long time.
How Long Does Shortness Of Breath From Anxiety Last?
It will last for a few minutes when you have shortness of breath from anxiety. Normally, dyspnea is a simple bodily reaction to the underlying disorders that do not last for long. Similarly, in anxiety, the shortness of breath lasts for 4-6 minutes in most of the cases. The dyspnea caused by panic can last for 10-30 minutes. But in some cases of anxiety, it can last for as long as hours. One can suffer from panic hangovers, which make the short breath last for days. Medical attention is the first priority when dyspnea lasts for that long of a time.
Shortness Of Breath From Anxiety Symptoms
A lot of people with dyspnea wonder how to tell if shortness of breath is from anxiety. Your body gives you a lot of signs to find out that the reason behind your dyspnea is none other than your anxiety.
- You breathe really fast and short to take in more air.
- You feel that you are not breathing in enough air.
- There is a chance that your fast breathing began suddenly.
- Your heart is beating fast, and you are feeling some dizziness.
- You can notice the shortness of breath increases when you focus on it.
- You have no heart issues, no problem in your lungs, yet you find it difficult to breathe.
When Does It Become Dangerous?
Anxiety-induced dyspnea can become very serious if it does not get better within 30 minutes. Many symptoms show up in prolonged shortness of breath that can affect not just our lungs but also other organs like the heart. One of the first things people notice is that their chest pain worsens and it slowly spreads to other parts of the body. People with dyspnea also feel extremely dizzy and confused. They can have a very unclear speech which leads to gasping and choking. All of these instances are highly dangerous and one has to seek emergency care in this situation.
Medications for Shortness of Breath
As dyspnea is a side effect of anxiety, you have to eliminate anxiety through medications that will also work as a remedy for shortness of breath. Here are some natural remedies for anxiety, along with over-the-counter and prescribed medicines;
OTC Medications
- Benadryl
- Claritin
- Zyrtec
- Sudafed
- CBD
- Inositol
Prescription Drugs
Natural Medications
- Passionflower
- Chamomile Tea
- Rose Oil Blend
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Caffeine
- Magnesium
Home Remedies For Shortness Of Breath And Wheezing
There are many ways in which you can prevent shortness of breath naturally, without taking any medications. One who takes up these changes will not need any drug to treat dyspnea again. But if anxiety is behind the breathing issue, then the effectiveness of these ways can be debated.
- Get a proper sleep
- Exercise regularly
- Stay in better air conditions
- Having a healthy weight
- Being on a nutrition-rich diet
- No smoking
Conclusion
Anxiety can bring with it a lot more side effects, shortness of breath being one of them. Breathing is something we do normally, and we understand how important it is do it for our survival. So when suddenly our anxiousness, triggered by anything, suddenly affects our breathing, it frightens us a lot. But we must know that dyspnea is not a critical issue, and we can treat it through simple lifestyle practices and medications.