Short of breath

[morgalina]

Hello, I was diagnosed in January. I notice that I get short of breath. Told neurologist he said it had nothing to do with Parkinson's. Anyone else experience shortness of breath? Thank you

[Hidden]

paralyzed right hemidiaphragm

My neuro also said shortness of breath, not PD

[Don_oregon_duck in reply to Hidden]

This is a fantastic forum. Just reading all of the replies on this shortness of breath thread gives me great confidence that we truly have the greatest PD resource in the world. Thank you all for your input. I am very impressed with the knowledge that many of you have. Please, let's keep this going until a cure is found and this forum can be retired.

[rhyspeace12]

My husband's doctor told him that the muscles of the lungs "harden" in Parkinson's patients and made it harder to breathe.

[cliftonville]

Yes, I also seem to be suffering from shortness of breath whilst out walking. Have always excercised regularly, walking most days, but can't walk and talk any more! Diagnosed four years ago.

[CCole]

YES! In a worst case scenario, due to all the sleeping problems that PD sufferers often experience, they occasionally fall a sleep in their chair, which can result in a leg blood clot which ultimately can cause a pulmonary embolism (blood clots in their lungs). It happened to me and I know 3 other PD sufferers who had the same thing occur. Always get up from your seated position at least 1x / hour and never fall a sleep in a seated position. It can cause death! I was lucky.

[Ozie]

Let's just say that PD affects everything, heart, lungs, bowels, skin, face, eyes, muscles, balance, dreams, personality, sanity, well being, ........... Is there anything it doesn't impact on? It really is the pits. Although motor neurone disease is worse since 50% die within a couple of years - Stephen Hawking is a complete out lier!

[parkie13 in reply to Ozie]

To Ozie. What does he have? Is it different kind of Alzheimer's? Mary

[Nivrac77]

Not sure why so many neurologists don't think it (shortness of breath) is part of Parkinson's, but I know when I pressed it with my doc, she said (like with many other symptoms)--go see your Primary Care Physician. Why is any medical professional so fast to defer, and not try and consider the total picture of the whole patient. I guess it's just the speciality driven nature of our medical system. Don't get me wrong, I don't want a neurologist to do a lung test, but to at least put the wholistic pieces of your symptoms together and give you some reasonable medical response would be nice for a change. I can't help but occasionally wonder if the PCP and the neurologist went to the same Med school classes before their residency?

[weekapaw in reply to Nivrac77]

Me thinks your Dr could use a better Bedside Manor. Should have said SURE its part of YOUR PD. Now go to a specialist.

[aspergerian]

These references may be helpful.

Shortness

of breath, a 'wearing-off' symptom in Parkinson's disease.

Clin Drug

Investig. 2009;29(10):689-91.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/197...

Abnormal

pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength findings in

Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease and multiple system

atrophy--comparison with normal elderly.

PLoS One. 2014 Dec

29;9(12):e116123.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/255...

Ventilatory

Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease.

J

Parkinsons Dis. 2016 Jun 16;6(3):463-71.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/273...

Measurement

of Voluntary Cough Production and Airway Protection in Parkinson

Disease.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016

Mar;97(3):413-20.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/265...

Post-mortem

brain pathology is related to declining respiratory function in

community-dwelling older adults.

Front

Aging Neurosci. 2015 Oct 21;7:197.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/265...

[arwenmark in reply to aspergerian]

My husband has days where he can move almost normally, but many more days he can barely walk four or five steps before he must sit down again and try to catch his breath, he is basically panting at those times and it is clear this is all from Parkinson's fatigue. He if 67 and was diagnosed in February of 2012.

[Kaykaykay123]

I do yes! My upper back muscles and neck get very stiff and painful.This often causes me to be breathless.

[oceanflower]

I have the same thing, sometimes feel short of breath, and sometimes hyperventilate. It is frustrating going to different specialists who don't seem to understand how Parkinson's impacts the whole body. Sometimes I have the urge to hand a specialist a piece of paper with links to studies I found on the net re Parkinson's that seems to be relevant to the problem I've come in for...I feel we should help educate our specialists to understand the Parkinsons's angle. I agree with Nivrac77 above who thinks that a wholistic style approach would be so much better for us.

I did find something on another Q-A site about Parkinson's on this question. (sorry - I forgot where it came from). Here is what I copied into my own notes:

Can Parkinson's disease affect breathing by limiting dopamine to the intercostal muscles?

PWP: I have Parkinson's and I notice that when my Sinemet wears off it is very hard to breathe. When the meds are kicked in I can breathe normally, when they run out (usually within 4 hours) my breathing is very fast, short, and shallow and I can't seem to get enough oxygen.

The doctor replied:

The short answer is Yes.

It is not just the intercostals - all of them - which are involved in respiration, it is also the diaphragm. And all of these muscles are affected by the imbalance between acetylcholine (normal) and dopamine (low levels). There are different ways in which the dopamine deficit can cause respiratory dysfunction or malfunction but I think that you have identified the direction of relief.

You really are having breathing issues that are not inconsistent with Parkinson's and you should discuss this with your doctor soon because it sounds as if you need an adjustment in your meds. Whether it is adjusting the dosage of your Sinemet or add one of the COMTS i.e. a switch to Stalevo as a second line defense, I couldn't say.

You breathing becomes rapid and shallow because you are in respiratory distress as the muscles tighten (thanks to the acetylcholine) and do not relax, no thanks to the lack of dopamine to balance the process. Your body cannot breathe as it should. This is the motor aspect of Parkinson's disease in a very focused manner.

[weekapaw in reply to oceanflower]

I get palpitations sometimes coming off. Couild this be related?

[finlander]

Yes, I have horrible problems with shortness of breath and my neurologist said it is definitely connected to Parkinson's. It happens when I have a lapse in taking my meds in a timely manner and fall into an "off" period. My cardiologist concurs.

[lempa_nik]

You bet shortness of breath, a.k.a. "dyspnea," can be a byproduct of PD. So just Google "parkinsons dyspnea" and you'll find a lot of reliable info, on PubMed and elsewhere. But shortness of breath can also come from many other serious conditions--see below--so out of an abundance of caution, your neuro will probably refer you to another specialist. Here's one article (the first one cited by aspergerian, above):

( ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/197... )

I quote from the abstract—" . . . Although levodopa is considered the gold standard for Parkinson's disease therapy, prolonged use of this drug can result in motor complications such as a 'wearing-off' phenomenon. This outcome is seen in a significant number of patients with Parkinson's disease taking levodopa and, in some cases, is observed only a few hours after intake of the last dose of levodopa. Patients experiencing the wearing-off period may present with sensory, autonomic, psychiatric and motor fluctuations. Although infrequent, shortness of breath is an important non-motor wearing-off symptom experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition to being a symptom induced by wearing off, other causes of shortness of breath include pulmonary diseases, coronary artery disease and anxiety. Thus, it is important to identify the cause of shortness of breath to ensure that the appropriate treatment is initiated. . . . "

Other, non PD, conditions that can cause dyspnea are listed in Wikipedia

( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short... ) as follows:

"Dyspnea is a normal symptom of heavy exertion but becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected situations or light exertion. In 85% of cases it is due to asthma, pneumonia, cardiac ischemia, interstitial lung disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or psychogenic causes, such as panic disorder and anxiety. Treatment typically depends on the underlying cause."

[weekapaw]

I don't know if he is right. I was diagnosed 3 years ago. Recently, I occasionally have difficulty breathing laying down. My Dr gave me an inhaler. No big deal either way, but do get an inhaler.

[DianeF]

Of course Parkinson's affects lung function! I have always had breathing difficulties and been susceptible to pneumonia. Doctors have misdiagnosed me because I don't cough when I have it. In working with a PT familiar with Parkinson's, he told me that I had a weak diaphragm and a poor cough reflex which is very common in folks with Parkinson's. He sent me to a speech therapist who gave me some exercises to do in addition to th LSVT LOUD ones I already do. On a side note, I did notice that when I started taking amadatine, I did become more short of breath, which turned out to be a side effect. Here is yet another study on pulmonary isssues: atsjournals.org/doi/full/10...

[paddyfield]

Thanks for that folks. Now I don't have to say "there's no rhyme or reason for it", i.e. whether I get breathless a few minutes into a walk or manage fine the whole length of it. Could my incessant and irritating throat clearing be linked. i.e. am I having to do voluntarily what my lu ngs/muscles would do automatically without PD. I also had painful intercostal muscle spasm in my back on my Parky side.a few months back which thankfully has resolved itself.

[Bill33]

It tends to unconsciously make me breathe shallower creating shortness of breath

[pen1]

PD csn and does affect the

autonomic nervous system (which controls all automatic functions Eg blood pressure, respiration, temperqature regulation ) justas much as it affects the voluntary nervous system which controls moving . I have been DX for 14 years and have been running out of breath and dripping with cold sweats as I wear off for at least the last 5 years. Sometimes I wish our doctors would stop reading the old textbooks and start listening to patients and reading research papers published since 2000!

[Communicator]

I've had PD for 7 years, and began having episodes of shortness of breath about two years ago. They started out without much of problem, but grew longer (30 minutes to four hours!), more frequent (2 to 4 a day) and more intense (I can't function, need to sleeps it off). Its related to the wearing off of levedopa. I've seen 3 neurologists. They have changed my dosage of Rytary. That has helped a little bit but the rapid breathing comes back, usually beforeor after I take one of my 3 doses, but any time. My wife and I are very active, and I have to find a place to lid down or go home. I have to find a solution!

[Cmike30296 in reply to Communicator]

I am having the same problem! I was thinking it was the amandine I start. Did you find your cause for the shortness of breath?

[Communicator]

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I EXPERIENCE SHORTNESS OF BREATH. NEITHER DO THE 7 NEUROLOGIST and the 3 PULMONARY DOCTORS A ND THREE HOSPITOLS. i woiuld think on of them could solvemsystery and be honored for it. I guess no doctor would becuase the are coMon ailments tosolve.