Medical Advice

Can Anxiety Cause Shortness Of Breath For Days? Dyspnea Symptoms

Posted by author-avatar
Can Anxiety Cause Shortness Of Breath?

Many people have reported having sudden short breathedness, which is also known as dyspnea. This shortness of breath happens due to many reasons, but one of the reasons many believe is the most visible cause behind the problem is Anxiety. It is very important to know how to tell if shortness of breath is from anxiety or lung problems. To make it clear, in this article, we have discussed the ‘Can anxiety cause shortness of breath for days or not?’ Let’s get into the details.

How to Tell If Shortness of Breath Is From Anxiety?

What is Shortness of Breath?

Shortness of breath is basically a sensation that makes us feel we are not breathing enough. You will feel your chest getting tighter and also feel that you are breathing faster than usual. All of this happens because of dyspnea. Shortness of breath is not a disease but a cause or a symptom of a disease. It is mostly a mere exhaustion, and your lungs will try to breathe in more air. But sometimes, Dyspnea can become very serious if not treated well. It must be treated immediately because you can see it can go from mild to extremely severe.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is the troublesome feeling one goes through when they are sad, tense, worried, or 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 become very serious and show many side effects, one of them being short breathedness. Irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, sleeping issues, and headaches are a few more serious outcomes, and shortness of breath. We need to understand why dyspnea happens due to anxiety.

How Can Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath?

Anxiety activates your 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 because your stress hormone gets activated. The first thing that will happen is your heart starts beating too fast because of adrenaline released by the hormone 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. So now if someone asks you, can anxiety cause dyspnea, you have an answer.

How Long Can Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath?

When shortness of breath anxiety kicks in, it will last for a few minutes. Normally, dyspnea does not last long because it is a simple bodily reaction to the underlying issues or disorders. Similarly, in anxiety, the shortness of breath lasts for 4-6 minutes in most of the cases. The dyspnea caused by panic can be there 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 makes the short breath last for hours and even days. Medical attention is the first priority when dyspnea stays for a long time.

Shortness of Breath 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 you take shorter breaths 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.

Medications for Shortness of Breath

Dyspnea, which is caused by anxiety, is cured by well-known anxiety medications. As it is a side effect of anxiety, here you won’t need to use any specific remedy for shortness of breath. Here are some natural remedies for anxiety, along with over-the-counter medicines;

OTC Medications

  • Benadryl
  • Claritin
  • Zyrtec
  • Sudafed
  • CBD
  • Inositol

Prescription Drugs

Natural Medications

  • Passionflower
  • Chamomile Tea
  • Peppermint 
  • Eucalyptus Oil
  • Caffeine
  • Magnesium

Lifestyle Changes to Treat Dyspnea Caused by Anxiety

There are several natural ways to prevent shortness of breath without the need for medication. These methods involve a complete physical and mental change in lifestyle. One who takes up these changes is less likely to need any drugs to treat dyspnea again.

  • Having proper sleep
  • Avoiding instances that can trigger anxiety
  • Exercising regularly
  • Staying in better air conditions
  • Having a good body weight
  • Being on a healthy 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.

Related Posts: