Breathlessness

Category: Lungs & Breathing · All lungs & breathing symptoms

What it can feel like

Breathlessness is the uncomfortable feeling of not being able to get enough air — breathing faster, shallower or with more effort than the moment calls for. Everyone is breathless climbing stairs; breathlessness that is new, at rest, or out of proportion to activity is the pattern that needs assessment.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Breathlessness can be associated with being unfit, anxiety and panic, anaemia, chest infections, asthma flare-ups and being overweight.

Other possible causes

Breathlessness can also be associated with heart failure, chronic lung disease, a blood clot in the lung, fluid around the lung, or severe infection — patterns that are often accompanied by other symptoms such as ankle swelling, wheeze or chest pain.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Breathlessness at rest, or that comes on suddenly
Breathlessness with chest pain, blue lips or coughing blood — emergency
Breathlessness that stops you speaking in full sentences
New breathlessness that is getting worse over days
A child who is breathing fast, with ribs showing or poor feeding

What a clinician may do

A clinician will measure oxygen levels, pulse and breathing rate, and listen to heart and lungs. Blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and lung function tests are common; scans of the lungs follow when a clot or other cause is suspected.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchGeneralized anxiety disorder symptoms of anxiety attack shortness of breath anxietyWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchAcid reflux home remedies acid reflux shortness of breath heartburn nausea fatigue acid refluxWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if breathlessness is an emergency?

Breathlessness at rest, breathlessness that stops you finishing a sentence, blueness of the lips, or breathlessness with chest pain should all be treated as emergencies. Breathlessness that is mild but new and persistent should be assessed within days, not weeks.

Can anxiety cause real breathlessness?

Yes — panic changes breathing pattern and the sensation is genuine and frightening. But anxiety is a diagnosis made after heart and lung causes have been considered, because the symptoms overlap so much.

Related symptoms — Lungs & Breathing

Bringing up phlegm Chest infections that keep coming back Cough Coughing up blood Noisy breathing Pain when breathing in

Browse the B section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.

Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.