Breathing Problems - Causes, Treatment and Effective Home Remedies

Breathing problems - shortness of breath

If we find it difficult to breathe, classic respiratory diseases such as influenza or pneumonia are often behind the problem. However, these are not the only health problems that can theoretically cause respiratory problems. Moreover, the causes of such complaints need not necessarily be found in respiratory diseases.

contents

• Breathing problems - shortness of breath
• How does our breathing work??
• Definition of breathing difficulties
• Respiratory diseases as the main cause of respiratory problems
• Diseases of the upper respiratory tract
• Diseases of the lower respiratory tract
• Breathing difficulties and heart disease
• Breathing problems due to musculoskeletal disorders
• Connection between psyche and difficulty in breathing
• Everyday stress, anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Concomitant symptoms of respiratory complaints
• Diagnosis of respiratory problems
• Therapy for respiratory problems
• Home remedies for breathing difficulties
• Treatment for mental causes

How does our breathing work??

To understand how breathing difficulties can arise in detail, one must consider the respiratory function of the lung (Pulmo) take a closer look. This is primarily generated by the respiratory muscles, which is located in the chest and causes by appropriate muscle contractions puffing and slackening of the lung. The most important respiratory muscle in this regard is located below the lungs diaphragm As it expands and contracts repeatedly, it increases or decreases the lung volume at regular intervals, creating the mechanism of inhalation and exhalation.

As you inhale (inspiration), the ribcage widens and the lungs expand, and as you exhale, it contracts again. (Image: Alila Medical Media / fotolia.com)

The diaphragm is supported in its function by the so-called Respiratory muscles. This can be divided into two main muscle groups:

• inspiratory muscles - These muscles are needed for inspiration
• expiratory - These muscles are needed for exhalation

Like the diaphragm, the respiratory muscles in the chest are also stimulated by nerve signals for muscle contraction. The signals come from the brain's own respiratory center, which acts as a clock for the breathing intervals.

If the signal line between the respiratory center and the respiratory muscles functions without interference, between 17,000 and 20,000 breaths are generated daily. Fresh, oxygen-rich air is here by the trachea in the finely branched bronchial the lungs are transported. In it are the essential for further oxygen transport alveoli (Alveoli), the ends of which open into the lung's own blood vessels. The oxygen absorbed by the alveoli is distributed throughout the body via those same blood vessels. Exhausted air leaves the body later on exhaling in the same way.

Definition of breathing difficulties

Breathing symptoms are now all sorts of forms of disturbed respiratory function referred to, which arise either by a disturbed signal line or loss of function of the respiratory muscles and the lungs. In particular, the complaints include shortness of breath (Dyspnea), which describes persistent respiratory distress due to respiratory distress. In the course of shortness of breath it comes to a reduced oxygen uptake of the lungs, which consequently also affects the adequate oxygen supply of the body.

Depending on the underlying disease, shortness of breath may also be the pre-stage of a lung failure and thus an imminent one Apnea (Apnea) announce. This is particularly the case for very severe lung diseases, airway blockages (e.g., foreign body blockages) and lung injury. A special form of respiratory arrest is the so-called sleep apnea, which describes the symptoms of periodic respiratory complaints or respiratory misfire during sleep.

Respiratory diseases as the main cause of respiratory problems

It is obvious that respiratory diseases lead to a large extent of respiratory distress. The spectrum ranges from harmless infections of the respiratory tract via chronic diseases to tumors in the respiratory tract. For a better overview, a distinction is made here between diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

In most cases, respiratory diseases are the reason for the complaints. (Image: RFBSIP / fotolia.com)

Diseases of the upper respiratory tract

The upper respiratory tract includes the mouth, nose and throat, as well as the larynx, which forms the border between the upper and lower airways. As a result of diseases, usually bacterial, viral or allergic inflammation, but also in the wake of injuries, the mucous membranes in this area can swell greatly. The mucosal swelling usually lead to one airway constriction (Obstruction), so that air can flow into the lungs only in very small quantities, or can be exhaled.

In severe cases, the swelling takes such extreme proportions that the respiratory tracts are completely blocked and respiratory symptoms culminate in acute respiratory distress or even respiratory arrest. Typical medical conditions that cause corresponding restrictions in the breathing are:

• Allergic cold
• allergic reactions of the upper respiratory tract in general
• colds
• flu
• croup
• sore throat
• Injuries from invading foreign bodies
• Obstructions due to strangulation

Danger: Regardless of the cause, the situation of acute respiratory distress is life-threatening and requires immediate and urgent medical attention.

Diseases of the lower respiratory tract

The lower respiratory tract, ie the areas below the larynx to the alveoli, are most often affected by descending infections or chronic diseases. Descending infections from the upper respiratory tract have a first here too mucosal swelling The result, which leads to breathing difficulties. In addition, the immune system tries to catapult the invading pathogens and foreign substances back out of the body through the formation of mucus. The produced mucus sits in the bronchi and is transported with coughing fits in the direction of the upper respiratory tract.

Often, however, the stuck mucus, due to its tenacity and weakness of the patient, can not be completely coughed off, remains in place, thus leading to further respiratory problems. The reason for this is the fact that the alveoli occupied by the mucus can no longer completely guarantee the gas exchange. The feeling of not getting enough air increases even more for the patient in this scenario as it becomes one Decrease in oxygen content in the blood (Hypoxia) comes. Frequently associated with such disorders of respiration are the following diseases:

• lung infection
• bronchitis
• the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• bronchial asthma

In asthma patients, the difficulty of breathing occurs as an attack and often at night. (Image: RFBSIP / fotolia.com)

Special case: respiratory tract tumors

The mucous membrane, supporting tissue and glandular cells of the respiratory tract can sometimes also develop tissue degeneration. To make matters worse here is that the lungs are particularly at risk when it comes to tumor diseases, as with the inhaled air and many, cell-damaging pollutants can enter the cell tissue. Increases the risk of cell deletions among others by:

• cigarette smoke
• combustion products
• environmental pollutants
• industrial pollutants
• traffic fumes
• Pollutants in the living area

Treacherous to tumors in the lungs is that degeneration remains unrecognized for a long time and can easily spread unhindered in the cell tissue. For this reason too, breathing difficulties and prolonged coughing after surviving infections should not be considered as harmless, but should be followed up by the doctor in a timely manner.

Breathing difficulties and heart disease

Heart disease can sometimes cause respiratory problems. The cause here is a pumping weakness of the heart due to illness-related performance losses. This results in a backflow of the blood to be pumped in the lungs, as a result of which it can no longer develop completely and the gas exchange is hindered in succession. Classic signs of such respiratory impairment are:

• Shortness of breath during exercise (later also at rest)
• dry, unproductive cough
• cold sweat
• Tightness in the chest area (possibly also associated with pain)

There are many causes for a pumping weakness of the heart. For example, heart inflammation such as pericarditis or myocarditis be responsible for the complaints. Often in these diseases by premature inflammation in the heart of delayed pathogens are identified as the author.

Congenital ones are also possible triggers of heart-related breathing problems Valvular heart disease or one heart failure. In addition to the problems with breathing, there are usually clear cardiac arrhythmias. The same applies to acquired cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure or the most treacherous coronary heart disease out. Not only do the diseases put a huge strain on the lungs, they also increase the risk of a heart attack.

In this context is also existing overweight called. Not only does the excess pounds press on the chest and make it difficult to breathe, obesity also promotes the development of heart disease that further affects breathing.

Attention: If the blood backlog left untreated, it can be a pulmonary edema come. It describes the filling of the alveoli with tissue water from the backlogged blood. Fluid-filled alveoli can no longer carry out the gas exchange necessary for breathing. This results in a lack of oxygen, which can become a critical situation for the whole body.

A monotonous posture can cause muscle tension and, consequently, breathing problems. (Image: Jeanette Dietl / fotolia.com)

Breathing problems due to musculoskeletal disorders

As already indicated at the beginning, the muscles needed for breathing can be responsible. Furthermore, there are some diseases of the skeleton in the ribcage area, which can not be excluded as the cause of the impairments during breathing also. A still comparatively harmless variant are thereby muscle tension in the area of ​​the cervical and thoracic spine. They occur, for example, in the context

• excessive exercise,
• monotone sitting posture or
• as a result of vertebral blockages or herniated discs

In case of unfavorable localization, it may lead to a restraint and associated false respiration. However, there are also more serious muscular and skeletal complaints that should be considered in association with breathing difficulties:

Zwerfelllähmung

Significantly less harmless is the paralysis of the diaphragm, as it is usually caused by more serious disease complexes. Causes for one diaphragmatic paralysis (Diaphragm palsy) are cramps, injuries or failures of the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm. The trigger is conceivable, for example, a previous one Lockjaw as it occurs among others with tetanus.

Also, tumors, inflammation and neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can not be ruled out as the cause of diaphragmatic paralysis. Even viral diseases such as herpes zoster can theoretically cause such.

Important: If the diaphragm completely fails due to paralysis as a respiratory muscle, approximately two-thirds of the respiratory volume is no longer sufficiently moved, since the lungs can no longer expand and fill with air. This sometimes results in severe breathing difficulties that can reach life-threatening levels.

skeletal abnormalities

Whether innate or acquired as a result of an accident, changes in the skeletal system, especially in the chest, can always lead to breathing difficulties, if the chest can not raise and lower abnormally due to anomaly. Particularly common causes in this regard are deformities of the spine, as caused by congenital scoliosis be caused. Also injuries of the thorax as a result of traffic accidents repeatedly provoke problems in breathing.

Connection between psyche and difficulty in breathing

A classic example of psychological cause is breathing difficulty hyperventilation. Often triggered by external influences, such as receiving a bad message, fear of exams or the immediate experience of a traumatic situation, there is a temporary increase in the respiratory rate in hyperventilating. At the same time, sufferers feel that they are not getting enough air.

The cause of this feeling is a shift in the concentration of blood gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) as a result of increased and too deep respiration. As a result, too much oxygen is absorbed, but at the same time exhaled too much carbon dioxide. In fact, the breathing often shown in the film can help in a bag. As a result, the person affected takes his own carbon dioxide back on and a balance of blood gases can be restored.

Important: Hyperventilation can quickly become an emergency as the body tries to restore imbalances through various regulatory mechanisms. There may be a shift in the pH in the blood, which can lead to coma without medical intervention.

A well-known first aid measure for acute hyperventilation is the rebreathing into a bag. However, this may only be used if there is no serious physical illness. (Image: estradaanton / fotolia.com)

Everyday stress, anxiety disorders and panic attacks

Acute stress not only promotes the development of heart disease. Even independent breathing difficulties are conceivable as an accompanying complaint of everyday stress or mental stress. Although time pressure, suppressed feelings, unprocessed traumas and loss experiences are relevant to the world of thoughts and feelings, they can also be expressed in physical signals, which include fatigue, increased irritability and forgetfulness as well as respiratory distress. The symptom often occurs when it is actually the cause of experience, evaluation and processing of experiences.

Patients often turn themselves upside down by a doctor in the case of such health problems and are often disappointed if they do not find a physical cause and instead have a stress, fear- or panic disorder supposed. As before, these health problems are not classified as true diseases in society. However, our body and our soul are a tightly knit unit, and mental health damage also affects our physical health. For respiratory problems one should therefore consider possible psychosomatic factors as well as tangible, physical pre-existing conditions.

Concomitant symptoms of respiratory complaints

The concomitant symptoms that can occur in the context of impaired breathing are highly dependent on the underlying disease. For example, respiratory diseases often become noticeable through respiratory sounds and cold symptoms such as a rough throat, coughing, hoarseness, and runny nose.

By contrast, cardiac disorders usually occur due to cardiac arrhythmias, blood pressure fluctuations, fatigue and performance losses. Stress is shown in addition to exhaustion, especially on the basis of mood swings and cognitive disorders.

In respiratory diseases, common cold symptoms such as coughing, runny nose and a dry throat usually occur in parallel. (Image: RFBSIP / fotolia.com)

Diagnosis of respiratory problems

A first suspicion usually arises in the determination of breathing difficulties usually already during the medical interception of the lungs. Breathing noises, sudden coughing attacks or even lack of power when inhaling and exhaling give first indications. Following this, specific lung function tests can give more specific details. Should inflammation or infection be the cause, smears and blood tests also help to identify any pathogens and inflammatory secretions.

Imaging diagnostic procedures such as CT, MRI, or X-rays can also be helpful in examining respiratory ailments. This applies in particular to the determination of tumor and heart diseases, which can usually be recognized by conspicuous tissue changes.

Therapy for respiratory problems

The treatment of respiratory complaints is based on the underlying cause. Available in this regard are both medicinal and herbal therapeutic measures, as well as home remedies and surgical steps:

Medication

In the case of bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, antibiotic therapy is often indispensable in order to prevent the spread of the pathogens. Preparations such as penicillin, clarithromycin or amoxicillin help to successfully kill microbial pathogens and prevent the infection from descending into the lower respiratory tract.

Asthma patients and patients with COPD are often treated in long-term therapy with respiratory extension drugs. This is usually done through the regular use of inhalation sprays. These sprays contain agents that expand the respiratory tract (bronchodilators) and inhibit inflammation (corticosteroids).

For patients with heart disease as the cause of the respiratory problems another drug treatment regime is in question, which is often used in a combination of several preparations. Conceivable, inter alia, cardiac glycosides such as digitalis or beta-blockers such as metoprolol to increase heart strength. On the other hand, diuretics (such as Lasix) are often used to reduce blood volume. To reduce blood pressure, there are also antihypertensive drugs such as ramipril.

Medicinal herbal therapy

Especially in the field of medicinal herbs, there are many helpers for the treatment of respiratory ailments. These achieve very different healing properties depending on their respective ingredients. Herbs such as peppermint, lemon balm and sage are known for their anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effects. Thyme is a good mucus remover. Eucalyptus and Echinacea are also known for their antitussive, expectorant and respiratory properties.

The medicinal plants can either be prepared for a wholesome tea, steam or therapeutic bath or be purchased directly as lozenges, drops or tablet additives in the pharmacy.

A tea with peppermint has anti-inflammatory and disinfectant. (Image: oxie99 / fotolia.com)

A good tip for respiratory complaints is the so-called phyto-aromatherapy. In the process, special herbs and resins are heated in a smoker or warmer, so that the beneficial substances are released into the room air and then reach the respiratory tract through inhalation. For this, the well-known myrrh offers very good. The resin, which is known to many from ritual fumigations, namely has a very good effect against respiratory diseases and respiratory problems. Other recommended herbs for treatment include:

• arnica
• coltsfoot
• motherwort
• Plantain
• licorice
• Knotgrass
• hawthorn

Important: Especially chronic sick people and allergy sufferers should be careful when using medicinal herbs especially as an additive in inhalations or steam baths. Often they do not tolerate every herb and even more so with an increase in symptoms.

Operative treatment

Breathing problems caused by skeletal anomalies can often only be corrected by surgical correction of the malposition. This is necessary, for example, in the course of a scoliosis. It should be noted, however, that in advance a detailed risk-benefit analysis should take place with the doctor, since this is a major procedure on the back with a high complication potential.

Similar risk assessments are also important if a nervous or tumor disease is the focus of surgical treatment in respiratory disorders. In both cases, the individual health status of the patient, as well as the benefit of surgery, must be assessed in advance in order to be able to say whether a surgical procedure is worthwhile or not.

physical therapy

Physiotherapeutic measures are not only important in rehabilitative physiotherapy after surgery. Even muscular respiratory problems can be treated very easily by a physiotherapist or osteopath with little effort. Corresponding courses can, among other things, correct postural mistakes, relieve tension and strengthen weakened muscles.

It is important, however, that in the aftercare appropriate measures are taken to avoid a recurrence of blockages. These include, among other things, permanently maintaining a healthy posture while seated and building good back muscles.

Home remedies for breathing difficulties

When it comes to inhalations, chronically ill people are often prescribed a special, electric steam inhaler from their doctor. You can prepare a suitable steam bath but also with the above-mentioned herbs easily at home. Performing for about 10 minutes (depending on your well-being) 3-4 times a day will help to loosen up the stuck mucus and transport it to the outside with coughing fits.

Breathing problems often disappear when some lifestyle habits are changed. (Image: heilpraxisnet.de)

Heart patients have a harder time. First and foremost, your condition can only be treated by medication, and there is no one short-term measure that can be used for relief or cure. However, the person concerned can still take a number of measures but ultimately aim for a long-term change in lifestyle.

Corresponding lifestyle changes are also recommended for stress patients and, above all, include a healthy diet. This should be rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, which includes a generous consumption of fruits, vegetables and cereals. In the case of heart diseases in particular, such a diet may also aim at a weight reduction to relieve the chest and thus the respiratory and respiratory muscles. Combined with regular exercise, the immune system can also be wonderfully strengthened and prevent possible respiratory infections and heart inflammation.

Likewise for the successful treatment of respiratory ailments at heart and stress load is a stress reduction. The daily routine should be planned stress-free if possible and ideally combined with regular relaxation phases. Yoga, Reiki or autogenic training can be very useful here.

In the case of pollutant pollution as the cause of respiratory problems, it is also important in everyday life to adequately protect the respiratory tract. Persons occupationally exposed to smoky or polluted environments must always wear a face mask. Cigarette smoke should also be avoided.

Treatment for mental causes

For untreated traumas as a cause of respiratory problems, it is advisable to consider talking therapy. Also, anxiety and panic disorder can now get along well with conversation and behavioral therapies under control. In the meantime, hypnotherapy, in which phobic behavior is neutralized by subconscious conditioning, is particularly popular. In addition, however, should always be a targeted confrontation with anxiety or panic-triggering everyday situations, if only because it can be seen only in the real test, whether phobias still exist or slowly dwindle.

Tip: Supportive to the therapeutic treatment and self-help groups are highly recommended. Here like-minded patients can share their experiences and help each other to overcome their problems.

Diseases with breathing difficulties: Flu, bronchitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, allergies, COPD, asthma, obstruction, muscle tension, diaphragmatic paralysis, heart failure, heart valve failure, myocardial insufficiency, coronary heart disease, stress. (Ma)