Shortness of Breath - Tips for Non-Asthmatics

A number of problems can cause an asthma-like attack in a non-asthmatic person. Colds and flu, and allergies such as hay fever and intolerance to dust or mites or mould (mold) are fairly obvious causes.

Exercise can be another cause, especially if your body is already battling a cold or flu infection that you're unaware of.

Unintentionally breathing too shallowly can also cause a feeling that you need to gasp for air. You may experience this occasionally if you eat too quickly, or try to carry on a conversation while you're enjoying dinner or exercising. Taking a satisfying breath becomes less relevant as your body attempts to keep up with the other tasks you're attempting to juggle.

Being in a stuffy room where the air is stale, or a room that is too cold or hot, or has too much or too little humidity, can also trigger shortness of breath.

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Personal Allergy Test The MyAllergy Test is an excellent home allergy test to help you find the cause of allergic symptoms and determine what allergens to avoid.

Mold Detection Test A simple, do-it-yourself test which indicates the presence of mould (mold) in your home or office within 48 hours. Some mould, if left undetected or untreated, can be hazardous to your health, causing breathing problems or illness.

So, what can you do to get air back into your lungs when you start gasping?

First of all, try to calm yourself down and prevent panic. Reassure anyone you're with so that they don't panic and set you off. Allow them to call for help if you feel you may not be able to get your breathing under control. You can always cancel the call if you don't need assistance.

Go outside if you need to, or anywhere where the air quality is different if you feel it will help. Remind yourself that even though you're gasping for air, there is still some oxygen going into your lungs. You will be okay.

Try to relax your muscles. When you panic your muscles tighten and make it more difficult for your diaphragm to do its job of drawing air into your lungs.

Also, remember that you can't draw air into your lungs if you already have stale air in there. Stop trying to breathe for a moment, relax and calm yourself, then slowly let the air out. Squeeze all the air out, using your stomach muscles as well. Then take a slow breath in, as deep as you can manage. If it doesn't feel like the air is going all the way in, don't worry about it - just breathe out slowly, and breathe in slowly again.

After a few regulated breaths, you should feel that whoosh of your lungs opening up "properly" and the air getting to where it's needed.

It's always wise to check with your doctor if you're worried about your health. Peace of mind is worth a lot, and if your shortness of breath is caused by illness, early detection is your best bet for dealing with any problems that arise.

Dyspnoea/Dyspnea

Dyspnoea is the medical term for shortness of breath.

It can be a symptom of the following health problems:

- Early symptoms of heart failure
- Anaemia/Anemia
- Problems with your immune system leading to sarcoidosis of the lungs (inflammation)
- Hyperventilation
- Air around your lungs or a blood clot. If your shortness of breath is sudden and very severe, get emergency assistance immediately

If your shortness of breath occurs as part of another illness, such as a cough, cold, or flu, and you have developed a fever, see your doctor as you may have complications which could lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, or other respiratory illness which may require hospitalisation if left untreated.

Real Living Nutrition can help you determine how your eating habits can be improved for optimum health and vitality. If you're not sure whether you're getting the right levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, or if you need to lose a few inches, your personal dietician from Real Living can help you.

I also highly recommend the free Real Living Nutrition Newsletter for great tips on how to eat healthily and well. You also receive a Special Report: The 5 Biggest Dieting Mistakes

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