Why am I having breathing issues

[David19812021]

I have been having issues with breathing and have had cat scans of lungs and X-rays of lungs all normal. Heart tests such as echo cardiogram and carried a holter monitor and also a cat scan of my heart and they are attributing my breathing issue with anxiety. I’m wondering if these tests are accurate and if I should worry about this persisting issue

[Annie31]

Hi David, for both the x rays and cat scans to both show no abnormalities, I think you can safely say that these are accurate readings, along with the heart tests. It could very well be an anxiety issue, as one who does suffer with anxiety I do know it can affect your breathing. Have you considered hayfever, or the humidity? There will probably be some other members come along and may have other ideas that may be causing you to feel this way. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this and get the appropriate help.

[David19812021 in reply to Annie31]

Thank you Annie

[garshe in reply to David19812021]

I suffered with health anxiety and my breathing suffered. I learned to control this and my breathing improved. Also now taken off oxygen 16hrs as no longer required. Good luck xxSheila 💕

[Hidden]

Have you had spirometry done, and if so, was it normal?

The good news is that ct is the diagnostic gold standard for respiratory issues. The only thing that potentially doesn’t show up is early stages of chronic bronchitis, which is a productive condition that falls under the COPD umbrella. You don’t say what kind of symptoms you’ve been having, but if you’ve had spirometry done and that was also normal, then that would rule that out, as you can’t have COPD without abnormal spirometry. At which point, the root of your breathing issues most likely is anxiety, and/or possibly dysfunctional breathing, sometimes referred to as disordered breathing. This can happen as a result of anxiety, but also independently of having anxiety - it turns out quite a few people don’t breathe correctly, which can give rise to very real issues with breathlessness and decreased exercise tolerance. In some cases it can even effect your oxygen levels, and it often becomes a vicious cycle of breathlessness causing anxiety, causing further breathlessness, and round and round you go. However, both anxiety and dysfunctional breathing can be sorted with the right help.

[David19812021 in reply to Hidden]

No I haven’t had one of those done because all the other tests were normal

[Hidden in reply to David19812021]

It’s much more commonly done the other way round, which is why I asked - spirometry, then ct. Covid may have had an impact on that, though, as spirometry at the GP has been halted. Do you have a productive cough? If not, the odds of having chronic bronchitis are remote, and spirometry would make no difference to the situation. Like I said, ct is the gold standard for diagnosing lung problems, so in the absence of symptoms of CB, you can be confident they haven’t missed anything.

[David19812021 in reply to Hidden]

No cough at all no! It’s very strange what I’m experiencing to be honest

[Hidden in reply to David19812021]

Which only really confirms anxiety and/or disordered breathing. If you have no cough, and your ct is clear, then whatever’s going on isn’t respiratory in a medical sense.

[Ergendl]

Learning to sing properly can help with breath control, confidence and well-being. The British Lung Foundation has a list of groups which use singing to improve lung health. While a lot have been shut during covid precautions, some are online and others like mine have recently started up face to face meetings again. And no, you don't need to be a 'good' singer to join.

[Alberta56]

Best wishes. Hope you get this sorted. It does sound as if your lungs are OK.

[knitter]

Has your breathing pattern been monitored , when you are at rest, after exertion , when talking , when anxious ? How many breaths a minute , what part of your chest you are using , shoulders hunched or relaxed , posture .

Many things can affect the breathing pattern....talking , phone calls as well .

You can check some out yourself ...posture , tight shoulders ....depth of breath, mouth breathing for instance .

Try and put one hand on your upper chest one on your lower, lower hand should move out on in breath more than upper . Gentle gentle breaths with relaxed diaphragm ....using nose not mouth .

Anxiety, breathlessness , can get into a vicious circle .

Try 5 finger breath exercise on you tube , it may help .

The BLF website have some good advice too .

Yoga alternative nostril breaths help me , as well as meditation. But I went to a specialist tutor at first, difficult now with Covid.

Is the breathlessness recent .....not a symptom of Long Covid ?

Any allergies that you know of ....my asthmatic daughters are allergic to pets , dust, pollen which affect their breathing .

For UK residents the BLF have a helpline open during the working week on 03000 030 555.

Sending best wishes

[Bkin]

Hi David, if you've had all those tests and all come back normal. What the medical professionals advise you is likely to be the case. Anxiety and shortness of breathe is well known. Perhaps chat on the HU Anxiety and Depression community board for further understanding:

healthunlocked.com/anxiety-...

There is a self help link at the bottom of the page link below :

nhs.uk/mental-health/condit...

Chat again with your GP to see if there is anything you can investigate locally or online to help.

Best wishes and hope you are feeling better soon.

[Putsywillow1]

Hi David - I, too, am experiencing the same thing & all my tests come back normal. I don’t feel so alone now. The responses you’ve received make a lot of sense - life has been very stressful & I think it takes it’s toll. Exercise may help along with breathing therapy. I’m going back to pulmonary rehab & see if that helps. Stay in touch & let us know how you are doing. I’m so glad you wrote in. Best wishes.

[Ava09]

Also ask doctor about checking for VCD Vocal Cord Dysfunction, this is often missed and gets wrongly diagnosed as COPD or some other breathing problems. This would mean a visit to the ENT department.

[Serapaz22]

I am having the same symptoms. I am going for a stress test and repeat labs next week. I had a good day yesterday and thought it had subsided but it returned today Have you gotten better since you posted this?

[David19812021 in reply to Serapaz22]

No I have not gotten better and I have under went at least 50 chest x rays and two chest ct scans and endless amounts of blood work and they have found nothing.. it’s very stressful

[David19812021 in reply to David19812021]

They have done so much medical imaging I’m afraid to do anymore because of my family’s history with cancer