Does anyone have problems with lung capacity due to Parkinson's Disease, I have every medical exams you can think of, but after exerting myself for 5 minutes I have trouble breathing and mild chest pain.
Parkinsons's Disease and lung capacity - Cure Parkinson's
Parkinsons's Disease and lung capacity
Hey there, I wish I knew too. I love to exercise and am an athlete, but after 5 minutes I too need a rest. It's worse when I am on my feet (and yes, I seem to more gait affected). If bike, not too bad, but run? ouch.. I have been cardiac tested, and no issues there...
I also have had stress tested and every was normal nothing wrong with my heart. I am going to ask my neurologist.
Yes it is known though there seems little research. “He fetched his breath rather hard” was noted as a clinical feature by James Parkinson in his initial description of the disease in his 1817 essay An Essay on the Shaking Palsy.
The article link below discusses several aspects of PD related shortness of breath. One shortness of breath issue occurs more frequently during off time when the drug level is declining and before your next dose is due.
Another aspect involves dyskinesia affecting the lungs in such a way as to cause shortness of breath.
Another form of shortness of breath in PD involves anxiety, a very common symptom in PwP.
Yet another cause can be aspiration pneumonia, but this is a severe condition that your doctor has probably tested for because of the potential severity of aspiration pneumonia.
parkinson.org/Understanding...
Lastly, other health conditions not related to PD such as asthma or lung and heart disease may also be a cause. It is worth mentioning that people with PD are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a group of diseases that can affect the heart and vasculature such as the following :
hypertension (high blood pressure)
coronary heart disease (heart attack)
cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
peripheral vascular disease
heart failure
rheumatic heart disease
congenital heart disease
cardiomyopathies.
Here are two links with more details :
ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161....
And here:
healthunlocked.com/cure-par...
Art
People living with Parkinson’s may present with a wide variety of respiratory symptoms, ranging from shortness of breath at rest (SOB) to acute stridor. Shortness of breath can be very distressing for patients and clinicians alike. Multiple investigations may be undertaken, looking for infection, blood clots and heart problems. Although these potential causes of breathing abnormalities need to be excluded, clinicians must remember that PD itself and its medications can cause SOB; and that normal investigations should not automatically lead to a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or lead to inappropriate treatment plans.
From a physical perspective there may be rigidity in the diapgragm preventing space for lungs to fill with air. Also postural issues from PD does reduce lung capacity..