I’ve Been Having Shortness of Breath: What Should I Do?

There’s one thing you’ve been continually doing from the second you were born: breathing. In your daily life, you might not think much about your breath. Your body automatically breathes without requiring any focus from you.

If you’ve been noticing changes in your breathing, though, this function goes from one operating in the background to the forefront of your mind. Shortness of breath might have you wondering what’s going on — and if it’s anything serious.

We can help you find out. Here at Medical Associates of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, our team offers pulmonary function testing, which assesses how your lungs are functioning. With this option, we can help you determine the cause of your shortness of breath. This way, you can get the treatment you need to protect your lungs and your overall health.

When to see a doctor about your shortness of breath

Shortness of breath — medically called dyspnea — can happen for any number of reasons. Panic attacks and smoking can cause this symptom, as can low red blood cell counts (anemia). Even something seemingly simple like traveling to a higher elevation can trigger this symptom. Still, shortness of breath is always worth monitoring.

If this symptom comes on suddenly, it could be a medical emergency like a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have sudden dyspnea, especially if you’re experiencing other symptoms like:

Bluish lips or nails
Chest pain
Loss of consciousness
Nausea

While they don’t necessarily mean you need emergency medical care, other symptoms associated with your shortness of breath warrant a trip to the doctor. Make an appointment if your dyspnea comes with:

Ankle and/or feet swelling
Chills
Cough
Fever
Wheezing

You should also see a doctor if it’s hard to breathe when you lie flat or your dyspnea gets worse with time.

Finding out what’s behind your breathing changes

When you visit our office, we can use pulmonary function testing to evaluate how your lungs are working. Specifically, we offer a kind of testing called spirometry. During this painless, noninvasive test, you exhale forcefully into a specialized device (the spirometer).

Spirometry enables us to detect problems such as narrowing of the airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and signs of a respiratory condition. We might order additional testing — like an X-ray — to better diagnose what’s behind your shortness of breath.

If you’re having trouble breathing normally — and especially if that’s coming with other symptoms — don’t wait to come see our team. We offer same-day visits so you can get the prompt medical attention you need. You can simply walk into our Fort Worth office. Or to schedule a visit, send us a message online or call our office at 972-433-7178.