Breathlessness

What actually causes breathlessness? Or why do you seem to get it more some days than others or for no apparent reason? One day the stairs get you out of breath the next just lying in bed and you are out of breath, what causes it?

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I'm inclined to say there may be some sort of complex biological explanation to do with oxyhaemoglobin formation and chloride shift in red blood cells, hopefully someone more biology-capable will come and tell me if i'm totally wrong!

I may hazard a guess and say that if you are breathless then this is because haemoglobin doesn't ""pick up"" oxygen so easily when gas exchange occurs in the lungs, hence you breathe slightly quicker in order to make up some sort of oxygen debt....maybe...i'm probably wrong so I'm gonna shush now!

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I think that breathlessness is more of a perception thing. If you percieve your breathing as needing more effort than you will be breathless... so therefore it could be due to anything like your diaphragm is tired or air isnt flowing through your lungs or something like that

.....ummm not even sure that makes sense

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Hi

Im not sure what causes it but I would be interested to know! Recently I have found that become more breathless on exersion, in particular climbing stairs. I didn't actually notice it that much myself, but others around me have a lot does anyone else find this? I don't really even know if its asthma or not, my other asthma symptoms have stayed the same and I don't hve any additional symptoms alongside this breathlessness.

I have supplementary oxygen at night and I have had in the day at times, so in the back of my mind i wonder whether im no longer maintaining my sats on exersion Is this possible?

Its so no specific i'm not even sure what the doc/ con will be able t do if I were to mention it.

Libby x

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breathlessness

i am wondering too as i am getting worse , my breathing has gone out of control , even the shower is like a marathon , am i been missdiagnoised , i afraid its copd now , even thought i never smoked in my life . my cons have now put me back on SPRIVA even though its for copd what to do help anyone

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hi hudson

Sometimes spiriva is used in severe asthma it has been discussed on the boardss back in november so i'll check back and see if i can bump it for you if not please look back if your concerned anymore.

Id suggest going to your dr or consultant if your worried about symptoms getting worse we cant see you in person so cant advise in an emergency situation. If you feel like you are too breathless go to a dr or call an ambulance!!

Hope you feel better soon.

Lv Kat