What Does Shortness of Breath Indicate?

By sharib

1 min read

Over 20 years ago I experienced shortness of breath that wouldn’t respond to my rescue inhaler. I had been having to use it more often in the preceding weeks. I was unable to breathe normally and my family called an ambulance. I was unconscious until I woke up in the ER.

Shortness of breath wasn't from my asthma

A respiratory therapist was giving me treatment. I intermittently struggled to breathe and when I discovered I had been taken to cardiac intensive care, I questioned this move. I was told I’d had a heart attack! I continued to disbelieve this until an angiogram revealed a 95% blockage in my left artery descending. After another breathing treatment, I had two stents placed in my artery. I almost immediately began to be able to breathe comfortably.

Asthma changes after a heart attack

After some tweaking of my asthma meds, I have never again experienced major shortness of breath. I also attended cardiac rehab, changed my diet and added meds.

My cardiologist said this was not an atypical heart attack symptom in a female! Fortunately, this is now being taught in medical school. You do NOT necessarily have chest pain with a heart attack!

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johnep Member
I am a lifelong asthmatic with asthma described as moderate uncomplicated. My asthma is pretty well controlled with meds. When I experience throat congestion or mild shortness of breath, I will hold my breath 1 and 1.5 minutes, and do this multiple times. This improves my breathing and loosens up any congestion. I have never understood how this works but it does for me. Can you explain? Thanks, John
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="johnep" user-id="3021642"/> Hi john, and thanks for your post and question - it's a good one! You may be aware we cannot provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concern certainly warrants a reply. Generally speaking, breath holding, in conjunction with asthma, is sometimes recommended when a patient is using a metered dose inhaler (MDI). The instructions often include having the patient hold their breath (as feasible for each patient), for several seconds at the end of an inhalation (following actuation of the MDI). The thought process is the medication, which was just inhaled from the MDI, will have more of a chance (during the breath hold) to be distributed more evenly throughout the lung. In your comment, you've mentioned that you will hold your breath for 1 minute and/or 1.5 minutes. That, in itself is an accomplishment! That is a significant period of time for a person to hold their breath. I am not certain what that may be doing for your breathing and your congestion. Perhaps other moderators/team members will weigh in with their thoughts. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://asthma.net' target='_blank'>asthma.net</a>)
johnep Member
Thanks for your reply. I had seen this breathing technique on the Internet years ago and began doing it when needed. One of the keys to hold my breath longer is to relax my body and lungs. As long as it is not causing harm, I will continue doing it. I did mention to my pulmonologist a few years ago and he said it was ok.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="johnep" user-id="3021642"/> Hi again, john, and thank you for your reply and further explanation. If this is working for you and, your doctor approves of it, then stick with it! Nothing like having a system that is working well. Warmly, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://asthma.net' target='_blank'>asthma.net</a>)