Always Short of Breath? Here Are Possible Reasons Why
If you feel like you’re gasping for air — and you’re not exercising — that may be a reason for concern.
It's normal to be short of breath while you're exercising or in higher altitudes, but if you feel breathless while just walking from your bed to the bathroom, that may be a cause for concern. In this video, learn about health issues that can cause shortness of breath, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart failure, and asthma.
Keep in mind that shortness of breath may be a medical emergency if accompanied by high fever, confusion, changes of color in the fingertips or lips, chest pain, wheezing, or swelling of the feet.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians. (2018). Shortness of breath.
American Lung Association. (2022). Diagnosing and Treating Shortness of Breath.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Long COVID or post-COVID conditions.
Hashmi, M. F., et al. (2022). Dyspnea. StatPearls.
