Seems I'm On Some Kind....

[Dmactds]

....of 'roll' lately; I don't seem to have much original to say..., I just keep posting links to others wiser than me....; regarde:

copdcanada.ca/anxiety.htm

"Anxiety - Why do we become short of breath? In a nutshell and very simplified, in most of us COPD’ers, our DLCO or diffusion rate is compromised so that our lungs are no longer able to efficiently exchange O2 and CO2.

The O2 in our blood may drop and the CO2 level increases. Our brain signals our lungs and heart to speed up and try to get our level back in balance. We then become short winded. Then anxiety kicks in. When we become anxious, our body releases adrenaline which causes our heart to beat even faster. The brain then tells the lungs that the heart is working harder and needs more oxygen.

So we start to breathe faster and harder. The brain then tells the heart that the lungs need more blood to process, and so the heart starts to beat faster again. And so on, and so on, until we are uncontrollably Short Of Breath. We are then hyperventilating, breathing too fast and too shallow". - Philip J. Cable

[mrsmummy]

Nice, simple description.

[Dmactds in reply to mrsmummy]

Yes..., but further on in the site itself, there're rather contrary ideas on PLB and other ideas. Check it out, I found it most interesting.

[knitter]

one problem I have though is that I can be breathless and still have a reasonable O2 reading.

[Dmactds in reply to knitter]

From the little bit of reading I've done, that seems to be a malady or situation with many folks...

[sinclair61 in reply to knitter]

Your O2 levels can be fine and you can still have too much CO2. An oximeter doesnt measure the levels of CO2 in your blood.

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

the same thing with me 2 I had anxirty since I was 19 am now 52 wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy.

[Dmactds]

Yes...., I have attacks of anxiety from time to time but I try to keep in mind that they are born of ignorance of any particular situation and that many of the things I've been 'anxious' about in the past turned out to be harmless...., nothing of any consequence.

I think it's the same with being short of breath.

[undine]

Thank you for that - makes sense and explains why when we have an anxiety attack we need our conscious mind to override our body and break the loop - thank you xx

[Yellowrose79]

Thank you.