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Under what conditions does increased breathing occur? What should you do if your child has harsh, heavy or rapid breathing or wheezing? Pulmonary embolism as a cause of tachypnea

General information

Rapid breathing is an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements (more than 20 per minute), not accompanied by a violation of its rhythm.

Tachypnea, as a rule, develops as a result of gas exchange disorders, which is accompanied by the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood and a decrease in oxygen content.

Causes

Rapid breathing is often associated with excitation of the respiratory center, which may be associated with pathology of the central nervous system or occurs reflexively.

Normally, a person’s breathing rate depends on a number of factors: the innate characteristics of the body, the person’s physical activity, age, body weight, general health, etc. The breathing rate is also related to the person’s condition. For example, rapid breathing is often observed during fever and pregnancy.

One of the reasons for rapid breathing is a stressful situation. The person breathes very quickly and finds it difficult to speak. Tachypnea is also observed in hysterical neurosis. In addition to increased breathing, there is instability of emotions, attacks of rage, etc.

Very often, rapid breathing in an adult or child is associated with colds. This is due to airway obstruction and increased body temperature.

Tachypnea may indicate bronchial asthma and intensifies before the onset of an attack.

Rapid breathing with attacks of wet cough in the morning can be a sign of chronic bronchitis.

With pneumonia and pleurisy, rapid breathing is accompanied by chest pain associated with respiratory movements.

With tuberculosis, rapid breathing is combined with a slight increase in body temperature, coughing, sweating, weakness, and poor appetite.

Sometimes rapid breathing indicates that a person has diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Rapid breathing in a child may indicate a foreign object entering the respiratory tract, inflammation of the epiglottis () or other organs of the respiratory system.

Diseases and conditions that may cause rapid breathing:

  • cardiac asthma;
  • hyperthyroidism;
  • acute respiratory failure syndrome;
  • heart defects;
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
  • spicy;
  • exudative pleurisy;
  • spontaneous pneumothorax;
  • diffuse pulmonary pneumosclerosis;
  • pulmonary embolism;
  • diseases of the circulatory system, accompanied by circulatory failure;
  • shock;
  • bleeding;
  • brain tumors;
  • hysteria;
  • anxiety, fear;
  • chest injuries;
  • benign and malignant neoplasms of the thoracic cavity;
  • pulmonary edema;
  • physical activity (running, hard work, sports);
  • acute pain;
  • disorders of the central nervous system (concussion, inflammatory processes, etc.);
  • diabetic ketoacidosis;
  • acute poisoning;
  • fever;
  • side effects of certain drugs;

An adequate breathing rate for an adult, provided it is determined at rest, ranges from 8 to 16 breaths per minute. It is normal for an infant to take up to 44 breaths per minute.

Causes

Frequent shallow breathing occurs due to the following reasons:

Symptoms of breathing problems


Forms of respiratory disorders that are manifested by shallow breathing

  • Cheyne-Stokes breathing.
  • Hyperventilation is neurogenic.
  • Tachypnea.
  • Biota respiration.

Central hyperventilation

It is deep (shallow) and frequent breathing (RR reaches 25-60 movements per minute). Often accompanies damage to the midbrain (located between the hemispheres of the brain and its stem).

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

A pathological form of breathing, characterized by deepening and increasing respiratory movements, and then their transition to more superficial and rarer ones and, at the end, the appearance of a pause, after which the cycle repeats again.

Such changes in breathing occur due to an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, which disrupts the functioning of the respiratory center. In young children, such changes in breathing are observed quite often and disappear with age.

In adult patients, shallow Cheyne-Stokes breathing develops due to:


Tachypnea

Refers to one of the types of shortness of breath. Breathing in this case is shallow, but its rhythm is not changed. Due to the superficiality of respiratory movements, insufficient ventilation of the lungs develops, sometimes lasting for several days. Most often, such shallow breathing occurs in healthy patients during heavy physical exertion or nervous strain. It disappears without a trace when the above factors are eliminated and transforms into a normal rhythm. Occasionally develops against the background of certain pathologies.

Biota breath

Synonym: ataxic breathing. This disorder is characterized by disordered breathing movements. In this case, deep breaths turn into shallow breathing, interspersed with a complete absence of respiratory movements. Atactic breathing accompanies damage to the posterior part of the brainstem.

Diagnostics

If the patient has any changes in the frequency/depth of breathing, you will need to urgently consult a doctor, especially if such changes are combined with:

  • hyperthermia (high temperature);
  • nagging or other pain in the chest when inhaling/exhaling;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • new tachypnea;
  • grayish or bluish tint to the skin, lips, nails, periorbital area, gums.

To diagnose pathologies that cause shallow breathing, the doctor conducts a number of studies:

1. Collection of medical history and complaints:

  • duration and features of the onset of the symptom (for example, weak shallow breathing);
  • preceding the appearance of violations of any significant event: poisoning, injury;
  • the rate of manifestation of breathing disorders in the event of loss of consciousness.

2. Inspection:


3. Blood test (general and biochemistry), in particular, determination of creatinine and urea levels, as well as oxygen saturation.

11. Scanning the lungs for changes in ventilation and perfusion of the organ.

Treatment

The primary goal of shallow breathing therapy is to eliminate the main cause that caused the appearance of this condition:


Complications

Shallow breathing in itself does not cause any serious complications, but can lead to hypoxia (oxygen starvation) due to changes in the respiratory rhythm. That is, shallow breathing movements are unproductive, since they do not ensure proper supply of oxygen to the body.

Shallow breathing in a child

The normal breathing rate is different for children of different ages. So, newborns take up to 50 breaths per minute, children up to one year old - 25-40, up to 3 years old - 25 (up to 30), 4-6 years old - up to 25 breaths under normal conditions.

If a child 1-3 years old performs more than 35 breathing movements, and a child 4-6 years old - more than 30 per minute, then such breathing can be regarded as shallow and frequent. At the same time, an insufficient amount of air penetrates into the lungs and the bulk of it is retained in the bronchi and trachea, which do not take part in gas exchange. For normal ventilation, such respiratory movements are clearly not enough.

As a consequence of this condition, children often suffer from acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. In addition, shallow, rapid breathing leads to the development of bronchial asthma or asthmatic bronchitis. Therefore, parents should definitely consult a doctor to find out the reason for the change in the frequency/depth of breathing in the baby.

In addition to diseases, such changes in breathing can be a consequence of physical inactivity, excess weight, the habit of slouching, increased gas production, poor posture, lack of walking, hardening and sports.

In addition, shallow rapid breathing in children can develop due to prematurity (lack of surfactant), hyperthermia (high temperature) or stressful situations.

Rapid shallow breathing most often develops in children with the following pathologies:

  • bronchial asthma;
  • pneumonia;
  • allergies;
  • pleurisy;
  • rhinitis;
  • laryngitis;
  • tuberculosis;
  • chronic bronchitis;
  • heart pathologies.

Therapy for shallow breathing, as in adult patients, is aimed at eliminating the reasons that caused it. In any case, the baby must be shown to a doctor to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

You may need to consult the following specialists:

  • pediatrician;
  • pulmonologist;
  • psychiatrist;
  • allergist;
  • pediatric cardiologist.

Rapid breathing (tachypnea) is a symptom that can have many causes. Frequent breathing can either mean nothing or signal serious problems in the body.

Normally, a person makes an average of 16 respiratory movements per minute (an increase to 20 is possible). In a newborn, the respiratory rate is up to 45 times per minute, which gradually decreases with age. During sleep, the frequency of respiratory movements decreases to 12. More frequent breathing indicates some pathological process in the human body.

As mentioned above, rapid breathing is a symptom of many conditions in the body. This phenomenon is associated with increased levels of CO 2 in the blood and decreased oxygen levels. The brain understands that there is less oxygen and inhales more frequently.

Frequent breathing (tachypnea) can be caused by the following reasons:

  • sense of anxiety;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • obstructive chronic pulmonary disease;
  • heart failure;
  • Tietze syndrome (benign thickening and tenderness of the second, third and fourth pairs of ribs);
  • various brain tumors;
  • blockage of veins by a blood clot;
  • heart attack;
  • panic attack;
  • pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural area);
  • pulmonary edema;
  • traumatic injury to the chest;
  • disruption of the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis);
  • feverish condition;
  • mountain sickness (a condition associated with insufficient oxygen supply to the body);
  • severe anemia and others.

Tachypnea occurs during alcohol and drug intoxication, severe stress or anxiety. Rapid breathing is normal during exercise.

There are two types of rapid breathing:

  1. physiological - not associated with any abnormalities and is a normal reaction of the body to certain conditions;
  2. pathological - caused by diseases that were described above.

In case of pathological tachypnea, it is necessary to identify the cause - the underlying disease. To establish the cause, you must consult a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination.

Frequent breathing during sleep

The cause of rapid breathing during sleep may be a nightmare, or other factors that put the brain in an excited state. Breathing may also become more frequent if there are problems with the cardiovascular or respiratory system.

During sleep, the breathing rhythm may become disturbed, and a person may take shallow breaths. This causes rapid breathing. In this case, the person either wakes up or the breathing evens out on its own.

Treatment of pathological tachypnea

Since pathological tachypnea is a consequence, it is necessary to concentrate on the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease.

To diagnose the underlying disease, you must first consult a physician. After examination and questioning, the therapist can refer the patient for examinations to other medical specialists, such as a cardiologist, neurologist, allergist, psychiatrist and others.

If such a symptom occurs in a child, you must first contact a pediatrician.

The cause of rapid breathing (tachypnea) in children varies. This condition indicates that the child needs urgent medical attention. Many conditions in children are accompanied by a lack of air. Among them are not only diseases of the respiratory system, but also severe heart defects.

However, in the youngest children the physiological respiratory rate is accelerated. Due to the structure of the chest, newborns experience respiratory arrhythmia, that is, an uneven breathing rate. Moreover, uneven breathing occurs in both premature and full-term babies.

Sometimes a child's rapid breathing may be accompanied by gurgling sounds. These symptoms require urgent consultation with a doctor, because this is how an infectious disease of the respiratory system can develop.

If during tachypnea the child also coughs and breathes very noisily, this indicates the development of false croup. But when displaying various emotions and during physical activity, special monitoring of the child is not required.

Rapid breathing (tachypnea) with heart defects in children

With some congenital heart defects, the following symptoms attract attention:

  • change in skin color;
  • facial skin with an unnaturally pale or bluish tint;
  • limbs swell;
  • the child screams for no reason, and is scared. During screaming, blue skin and cold sweat appear;
  • the infant suckles very sluggishly and gains little weight;
  • sometimes shortness of breath can be observed in children constantly, even at rest;
  • the heartbeat increases for no reason or, on the contrary, slows down;
  • pain in the place where the heart is located.

Often, heart disease in children can occur without significant symptoms. During a thorough examination, the pediatrician notices them.

Children with congenital heart defects should be seen by pediatric cardiologists or pediatricians. Parents do not have to refuse if the doctor offers surgical treatment for a heart defect.

Is croup dangerous?

Croup is an acute obstructive laryngitis. It is characterized by inflammation of the larynx and narrowing of the airways, accompanied by frequent heavy breathing. Those. Tachypnea is one of the symptoms of this condition.

Viral croup is accompanied by a narrowing of the larynx. It is accompanied by a rough barking cough, hoarseness of the voice, and a strong increase in breathing rate. Breathing problems most often occur at night. The breathing rate can increase even to 180 per minute.

With diphtheria there is true croup. The inflammatory process spreads to the vocal cords. In other diseases, so-called false croup occurs. Inflammation spreads to the area of ​​the larynx, trachea, and bronchi.

Typically, croup of a viral nature is self-limiting and rarely leads to the death of the patient. Children feel better if they are taken out into the cold air. The child should be taken to the doctor immediately if the temperature rises to 39 degrees, the lips turn blue, he is extremely lethargic, refuses to go to bed and cannot swallow saliva.

Pulmonary embolism as a cause of tachypnea

This is what is called a blockage of the pulmonary artery (which carries blood from the heart to the lungs) by a blood clot. This condition begins suddenly without any warning signs. The first sign of thromboembolism is sudden severe shortness of breath, tachypnea. Worrying pain in the heart, palpitations, as well as the most dangerous symptom - hemoptysis.

Thromboembolism is very dangerous for humans. In most cases, death occurs within two hours of its onset. So if doctors can keep vital organs functioning longer, it increases the chances of recovery.

Conclusion

So, if a person experiences tachypnea without physical activity, it is necessary to consult a doctor without delay, as rapid breathing can be caused by a serious illness. Sometimes timely seeking medical help increases the chances of recovery and rehabilitation. This is especially true for cases of shortness of breath in children.

Rapid breathing is a symptom characterized by an excess of the frequency of respiratory movements of the chest per minute, which may indicate the onset of pathological processes or be a variant of the physiological norm.

In medicine, this symptom is called “tachypnea.” It is used in their work by doctors of various profiles: therapists, pulmonologists, cardiologists and others.

Respiratory rate is an unstable indicator in medicine, since its normal values ​​vary depending on the age and weight of the patient. The presence of concomitant diseases, anatomical or physiological characteristics of a person is also important.

Normally, the frequency of respiratory movements in a healthy person during wakefulness should not exceed 15-20 per minute, in a child - no more than 40-45 per minute. During sleep, a decrease in these indicators is permissible, since the activity of the nervous system is suppressed. And under heavy load (heavy physical work, intense sports training), the breathing rate can reach 60-70 per minute.

Other symptoms that accompany rapid breathing

If we are talking about various diseases, then, as a rule, the patient has one or more of the following symptoms:

  • deterioration of general health, attacks of severe weakness and malaise;
  • constant or periodic dizziness, as well as fainting;
  • the appearance of dark circles before the eyes or “spots”, sudden darkening in the eyes;
  • inability to take a full breath or exhale, dissatisfaction with the act of breathing;
  • the appearance of wheezing, which can be heard at a distance, it intensifies when lying down;
  • chest pain that does not change in intensity with changes in body position;
  • pathological discharge from the nose, possibly hemoptysis;
  • swelling of varying severity in the lower extremities;
  • change in temperature response, increased sweating, dry mouth;
  • excited or panicky state of the patient, fear of death, inability to adequately assess the situation;
  • sensitivity in the upper or lower extremities is impaired;
  • the physiological color of the skin and mucous membranes changes, they become pale or bluish-burgundy.

Physiological causes of rapid breathing

Among the “natural” factors that cause this symptom are the following:

  1. Various types of physical activity or sports. In this case, the breathing rate directly depends on the intensity of these loads and the body’s fitness and can reach 60-70 per minute.
  2. Children of certain age groups have different limits of normal breathing parameters. This is due to the gradual maturation of the respiratory organs and the formation of regulatory mechanisms at the level of the central nervous system. The normal frequency for newborn babies is 50-60 respiratory acts per minute.
  3. During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes enormous hormonal and physiological changes, which directly affect the functionality of the respiratory system. The resting respiratory rate can reach 20-25 per minute.
  4. A stressful or exciting situation activates the autonomic nervous system, which affects the frequency of respiratory movements, making them faster.
  5. People who are overweight or obese to varying degrees breathe more frequently than their peers of normal weight.
  6. Being in mountainous areas leads to increased breathing, as a compensatory mechanism to protect the body from low oxygen levels in the surrounding air.

Pathological causes of rapid breathing

The range of diseases that can be accompanied by this symptom is quite wide, among them it is worth highlighting the most common:

  1. Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system (acute or chronic bronchitis, attack of bronchial asthma, pneumothorax, exudative or dry pleurisy, pneumonia and others).
  2. Diseases of the heart and pleura (coronary heart disease, heart attack, pericarditis and others).
  3. Diseases of the endocrine organs (thyroid or adrenal glands).
  4. Acute infectious processes of any localization, accompanied by febrile syndrome (pyelonephritis, mediastinitis and others).
  5. Thromboembolism of branches of the pulmonary artery of different calibers.
  6. Overdose of medications, drugs or alcohol.
  7. Anemia of various nature.
  8. Mental disorders, panic attacks, attacks of hysteria.
  9. Allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.

Diagnostics

The algorithm for diagnostic measures is extremely diverse, because patients with rapid breathing are encountered in the practice of doctors of completely different specialties.

An objective examination of such patients, as a rule, reveals a number of symptoms that indicate a particular disease.

Laboratory and instrumental examination includes the following procedures:

  • blood and urine tests;
  • biochemical blood test;
  • chest x-ray;
  • according to indications, they carry out: Echo-CG, SCT of the chest or abdominal cavity, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, bronchoscopy and others.

Treatment

The tactics of patient management in each specific case has its own characteristics and is determined by the root cause of the process. It is necessary to understand that it is the disease that needs to be treated, not the pathological symptom.

Inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system can be treated with antibacterial agents in combination with symptomatic drugs.

If the cause of rapid breathing lies in diseases of the cardiovascular system, then a combination treatment is carried out, including the use of diuretics, antianginal, vasodilators, antihypertensive drugs and others.

Endocrine pathology is corrected by prescribing appropriate hormonal drugs, and allergic processes can be treated with antihistamines.

At home, you can cope with rapid breathing that occurs against the background of psycho-emotional stress in the following ways:

  • take the most comfortable position, while it is best to get rid of clothes that are constricting and interfere with breathing, and take off your shoes;
  • if possible, then drink hot tea with soothing herbs or a herbal tincture consisting of motherwort and valerian;
  • You can breathe into a paper bag for several minutes to eliminate symptoms of hyperventilation and normalize the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

Prevention

The basis of prevention is the timely fight against all chronic diseases and infectious processes in the body.

It is necessary to strengthen the immune system, play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, take courses of vitamins and restorative medications. Overweight people should adjust their weight.

Before an upcoming exciting event, it is better to take light sedatives based on herbal remedies the day before. If the cause of the attacks is mental disorders, then it is recommended to talk with a psychotherapist.

Shaykhnurova Lyubov Anatolyevna

Tachypnea is a term a doctor uses to describe a patient's breathing if it is too fast and shallow, especially if it is due to the patient's lung disease or other medical cause.

The term "hyperventilation" is usually used when a patient takes rapid, deep breaths due to anxiety or panic.

Causes of rapid and shallow breathing

Frequent, rapid breathing has many possible medical causes, including:

Blood clot in an artery of the lungs;

Lack of oxygen (hypoxia);

Infection of the smallest airways in the lungs in children (bronchiolitis);

Pneumonia or any other lung infection;

Transient tachypnea of ​​newborns.

Diagnosis and treatment of rapid and shallow breathing

Rapid and shallow breathing should not be treated at home. It is generally considered a medical emergency.

If the patient has asthma or COPD, they need to use inhaled medications prescribed by the doctor. If possible, the patient should be examined by a doctor immediately, so it is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible with this symptom.

You should go to the emergency room if the person is breathing quickly and if they have:

bluish or grayish color of the skin, nails, gums, lips, or area around the eyes;

With every breath there is a tightening in the chest;

He has difficulty breathing;

Rapid breathing for the first time (never happened before).

The doctor will need to perform a thorough examination of the heart, lungs, abdomen, head and neck.

Tests that your doctor may order:

Study of carbon dioxide concentration in arterial blood and pulse oximetry;

Chest X-ray;

General blood test and blood chemistry;

Lung scan (allows comparison of ventilation and perfusion of the lungs).

Treatment will depend on the cause of the rapid breathing. Initial care may include oxygen therapy if the patient's oxygen levels are too low.

Breathing disorders

Normally, at rest, a person’s breathing is rhythmic (the time intervals between breaths are the same), the inhalation is slightly longer than the exhalation, the respiratory rate is respiratory movements (inhale-exhale cycles) per minute.

During physical activity, breathing quickens (up to 25 or more respiratory movements per minute), becomes more superficial, and most often remains rhythmic.

Various breathing disorders make it possible to roughly assess the severity of the patient’s condition, determine the prognosis of the disease, as well as the localization of damage to a specific area of ​​the brain.

Symptoms of breathing problems

  • Incorrect breathing frequency: breathing is either excessively rapid (in this case it becomes superficial, that is, it has very short inhalations and exhalations) or, on the contrary, it is very slow (and it often becomes very deep).
  • Irregular breathing: the time intervals between inhalations and exhalations are different, sometimes breathing may stop for a few seconds/minutes and then reappear.
  • Lack of consciousness: is not directly related to respiratory failure, but most forms of respiratory failure occur when the patient is in an extremely serious condition and is unconscious.

Forms

  • Cheyne-Stokes breathing - breathing consists of peculiar cycles. Against the background of a short-term lack of breathing, signs of shallow breathing very slowly begin to appear, then the amplitude of respiratory movements increases, they become deeper, reach a peak, and then gradually fade away until there is complete absence of breathing. Periods of no breathing between such cycles can range from 20 seconds to 2-3 minutes. Most often, this form of breathing disorder is associated with bilateral damage to the cerebral hemispheres or a general metabolic disorder in the body;
  • apneustic breathing - breathing is characterized by a spasm of the respiratory muscles during a full inhalation. The respiratory rate may be normal or slightly decreased. Having inhaled completely, a person convulsively holds his breath for 2-3 seconds and then slowly exhales. It is a sign of damage to the brain stem (the area of ​​the brain in which vital centers are located, including the respiratory center);
  • ataxic breathing (Biota breathing) - characterized by disordered respiratory movements. Deep breaths are randomly replaced by shallow ones, there are irregular pauses with a lack of breathing. It is also a sign of damage to the brain stem, or rather its back part;
  • neurogenic (central) hyperventilation - very deep and frequent breathing with an increased frequency (25-60 respiratory movements per minute). It is a sign of damage to the midbrain (the area of ​​the brain located between the brain stem and its hemispheres);
  • Kussmaul breathing is a rare and deep, noisy breathing. Most often it is a sign of metabolic disorders throughout the body, that is, it is not associated with damage to a specific area of ​​the brain.

Causes

  • Acute cerebrovascular accident.
  • Metabolic disorders:
    • acidosis - acidification of the blood in severe diseases (renal or liver failure, poisoning);
    • uremia - accumulation of protein breakdown products (urea, creatinine) in renal failure;
    • ketoacidosis.
  • Meningitis, encephalitis. They develop, for example, in infectious diseases: herpes, tick-borne encephalitis.
  • Poisoning: for example, carbon monoxide, organic solvents, drugs.
  • Oxygen starvation: respiratory failure develops as a consequence of severe oxygen starvation (for example, in rescued drowning people).
  • Brain tumors.
  • Brain injuries.

A neurologist will help in treating the disease

Diagnostics

  • Analysis of complaints and medical history:
    • how long ago did signs of breathing problems appear (impaired rhythm and depth of breathing);
    • what event preceded the development of these disorders (head injury, drug or alcohol poisoning);
    • How quickly breathing problems appeared after loss of consciousness.
  • Neurological examination.
    • Assessing the frequency and depth of breathing.
    • Assessing the level of consciousness.
    • Search for signs of brain damage (decreased muscle tone, strabismus, pathological reflexes (absent in a healthy person and appearing only when the brain or spinal cord is damaged)).
    • Assessment of the condition of the pupils and their reaction to light:
      • wide pupils that do not respond to light are characteristic of damage to the midbrain (the area of ​​the brain located between the brain stem and its hemispheres);
      • narrow (pinpoint) pupils that react poorly to light are characteristic of damage to the brain stem (the area of ​​the brain in which vital centers, including the respiratory center, are located).
  • Blood test: assessment of the level of protein breakdown products (urea, creatinine), blood oxygen saturation.
  • Acid-base state of the blood: assessment of the presence of blood acidification.
  • Toxicological analysis: detection of toxic substances in the blood (drugs, medications, salts of heavy metals).
  • CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the head: allow you to study the structure of the brain layer by layer and identify any pathological changes (tumors, hemorrhages).
  • A consultation with a neurosurgeon is also possible.

Treatment of breathing problems

  • Treatment of the disease causing breathing problems is required.
    • Detoxification (anti-poisoning) in case of poisoning:
      • drugs that neutralize toxins (antidotes);
      • vitamins (groups B, C);
      • infusion therapy (infusion of solutions intravenously);
      • hemodialysis (artificial kidney) for uremia (accumulation of protein breakdown products (urea, creatinine) in renal failure);
      • antibiotics and antiviral drugs for infectious meningitis (inflammation of the meninges).
  • Combating cerebral edema (develops in most severe brain diseases):
    • diuretics;
    • hormonal drugs (steroid hormones).
  • Drugs that improve brain nutrition (neurotrophics, metabolism).
  • Timely transfer to artificial ventilation.

Complications and consequences

  • Breathing in itself does not cause any serious complications.
  • Oxygen starvation due to irregular breathing (if the breathing rhythm is disrupted, the body does not receive the proper level of oxygen, that is, breathing becomes “unproductive”).

Prevention of breathing problems

  • It is impossible to prevent breathing disorders, since this is an unpredictable complication of severe diseases of the brain and the whole body (traumatic brain injury, poisoning, metabolic disorders).
  • Sources

M. Mumenthaler - Differential diagnosis in neurology, 2010

Paul W. Brazis, Joseph K. Masdew, Jose Biller - Topical diagnosis in clinical neurology, 2009

Nikiforov A.S. – Clinical neurology, vol. 2, 2002

Proper breathing is the key to health

Physiologically correct breathing not only ensures normal lung function, but also, thanks to the respiratory movements of the diaphragm, as already mentioned, improves and facilitates the activity of the heart, and activates blood circulation in the abdominal organs.

Meanwhile, many people breathe incorrectly - too quickly and superficially, and sometimes unconsciously hold their breath, disrupting its rhythm and reducing ventilation of the lungs.

Thus, shallow breathing causes harm to both healthy and even more so sick people. It is not economical, since during inhalation the air remains in the lungs for a short time and this has a bad effect on the absorption of oxygen by the blood. A significant part of the lung volume is filled with non-renewable air.

With shallow breathing, the volume of inhaled air does not exceed 300 ml, whereas under normal conditions it is on average, as already noted, 500 ml.

But maybe the small volume of inhalation is compensated by the increased frequency of respiratory movements? Let's imagine two people who inhale the same amount of air over the course of a minute, but one of them takes 10 breaths per minute, each with a volume of 600 ml of air, and the other takes 20 breaths per minute, with a volume of 300 ml. Thus, the minute volume of breathing for both is the same and equal to 6 liters. The volume of air contained in the airways, i.e. in the so-called dead space (trachea, bronchi) and not involved in exchange with blood gases, is approximately 140 ml. Therefore, with an inhalation depth of 300 ml, 160 ml of air will reach the pulmonary alveoli, and in 20 breaths this will be 3.2 liters. If the volume of one breath is 600 ml, 460 ml of air will reach the alveoli, and within 1 minute - 4.6 liters. Thus, it is absolutely clear that rare, but deeper breathing is much more effective than shallow and frequent breathing.

Shallow breathing can become habitual as a result of various reasons. One of them is a sedentary lifestyle, often due to the characteristics of the profession (sitting at a desk, work that requires standing in one place for a long time, etc.), the other is incorrect posture (the habit of sitting hunched over for a long time and moving your shoulders forward). This often leads, especially at a young age, to compression of the chest organs and insufficient ventilation of the lungs.

Quite common causes of shallow breathing are obesity, constant fullness of the stomach, enlarged liver, and bloating of the intestines, which limit the movements of the diaphragm and reduce the volume of the chest during inhalation.

Shallow breathing may be one of the reasons for insufficient oxygen supply to the body. This leads to a decrease in the body's natural nonspecific resistance. Respiratory failure may occur due to chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi, as well as intercostal muscles, since patients are deprived of the ability to produce normal respiratory movements for some time.

In elderly and elderly people, shallow breathing may be associated with decreased mobility of the chest due to ossification of the costal cartilages and weakening of the respiratory muscles. And despite the fact that they develop compensatory adaptations (these include increased breathing and some others) that maintain sufficient ventilation of the lungs, oxygen tension in the blood decreases due to age-related changes in the lung tissue itself, a decrease in its elasticity, and irreversible expansion of the alveoli. All this prevents the passage of oxygen from the lungs to the blood and impairs the oxygen supply to the body.

Lack of oxygen in tissues and cells (hypoxia) in some cases may be a consequence of circulatory disorders and blood composition. The cause of tissue hypoxia can be a decrease in the number of functioning capillaries, slowdown and frequent stoppages of capillary blood flow, etc.

Observations in the clinic have established that in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, hypertension, etc.), respiratory failure, accompanied by a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood, is combined with an increased content of cholesterol and protein-fat complexes (lipoproteins ). From this it was concluded that the lack of oxygen in the body plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis. This conclusion was confirmed in the experiment. It turned out that the amount of oxygen in the tissues and organs of patients with atherosclerosis was significantly lower than normal.

The habit of breathing through your mouth is harmful to your health. It entails restriction of respiratory movements of the chest, disturbance of the breathing rhythm, and insufficient ventilation of the lungs. Difficulty in nasal breathing, associated with certain pathological processes in the nose and nasopharynx, especially common in children, sometimes leads to serious disorders of mental and physical development. Children with adenoid growths in the nasopharynx, which impede nasal breathing, develop general weakness, pallor, decreased resistance to infections, and sometimes mental development is impaired. With a prolonged absence of nasal breathing, children experience underdevelopment of the chest and its muscles.

Physiologically correct nasal breathing is an essential condition for maintaining health. In view of the importance of this issue, we will dwell on it in more detail.

The nasal cavity regulates the humidity and temperature of the air entering the body. Thus, in cold weather, the temperature of the outside air in the nasal passages increases; at a high temperature of the environment, depending on the degree of its humidity, more or less significant heat transfer occurs due to evaporation from the mucous membrane of the nose and nasopharynx.

If the inhaled air is too dry, then, passing through the nose, it is moistened due to the secretion of fluid from the goblet cells of the mucous membrane and numerous glands.

In the nasal cavity, the air flow is freed from various impurities contained in the atmosphere. There are special points in the nose where dust particles and microbes are constantly “captured”.

Quite large particles, larger than 50 microns in size, are retained in the nasal cavity. Particles of smaller diameter (from 30 to 50 microns) penetrate the trachea, even smaller particles (10-30 microns) reach large and medium bronchi, particles with a diameter of 3-10 microns enter the smallest bronchi (bronchioles), and, finally, the smallest (1-3 µm) - reach the alveoli. Therefore, the smaller the dust particles, the deeper they can penetrate the respiratory tract.

Dust that enters the bronchi is retained by the mucus covering their surface and is expelled out within about an hour. The mucus covering the surface of the nasal cavity and bronchi acts as a constantly renewed mobile filter and is an important barrier that protects the body from the effects of microbes, dust and gases that enter the respiratory tract.

This barrier is especially important for residents of large cities, since the concentration of dust particles in urban air is very high. Large amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, as well as dust and ash (millions of tons per year) are released into the atmosphere of cities. On average, thousands of liters of air pass through the lungs during the day, and if the respiratory tract did not have the ability to cleanse itself, they would be completely clogged within several days.

In addition to tracheobronchial mucus, other mechanisms also take part in cleaning the bronchi and lungs from foreign particles. For example, the movement of air during exhalation facilitates the removal of particles. This mechanism is especially intense during forced exhalation and coughing.

Substances secreted by the nasal mucosa, as well as specific antibodies in the nasal cavity, are of great importance for the implementation of the antimicrobial barrier function of the nasopharynx and bronchi. Therefore, in healthy people, pathogenic microorganisms, as a rule, do not penetrate into the trachea and bronchi. The small number of microbes that do get there are quickly removed thanks to a peculiar protective device - the ciliated epithelium that lines the surface of the respiratory tract, starting from the nose to the smallest bronchioles.

On the free surface of the epithelial cells, facing the lumen of the respiratory tract, there is a large number of constantly oscillating (ciliating) hairs - cilia. All cilia on the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract are closely linked to each other. Their movements are coordinated and resemble a grain field agitated by the wind. Despite their small size, ciliated hairs can move relatively large particles weighing 5-10 mg.

If the integrity of the ciliated epithelium is damaged due to injury or medicinal substances that enter directly into the respiratory tract, foreign particles and bacteria are not removed from the damaged areas. In these places, the resistance of the mucous membrane to infection sharply decreases, creating conditions for the disease. The mucus secreted by goblet cells forms plugs that block the lumen of the bronchi. This can lead to inflammatory processes in unventilated areas of the lungs.

Respiratory tract diseases often arise as a result of damage to the mucous membrane by foreign impurities in the inhaled air. Tobacco smoke has a particularly harmful effect on the bronchi and lungs. It contains many toxic substances, the most famous of which is nicotine. In addition, tobacco smoke has a harmful effect on the respiratory system: it worsens the conditions for clearing the respiratory tract of foreign particles and bacteria, as it delays the movement of mucus in the bronchi and trachea. So, in non-smokers, the speed of mucus movement is mm per 1 minute, while in smokers it is less than 3 mm per 1 minute. This disrupts the removal of foreign particles and microbes and creates conditions for infection of the respiratory tract.

Tobacco smoke has a very significant negative effect on alveolar macrophages. It inhibits their movement, capture and digestion of bacteria (i.e., inhibits phagocytosis). The toxicity of tobacco smoke is also expressed in direct damage to the structure of macrophages, a change in the properties of their secretion, which not only ceases to protect the lung tissue from harmful effects, but also begins to contribute to the development of pathological processes in the lungs. This explains the occurrence of emphysema and pneumosclerosis in long-term smokers. Intensive smoking significantly aggravates the course of acute respiratory diseases and contributes to their transition to chronic inflammatory processes.

In addition, tobacco smoke contains substances that promote the development of malignant tumors (carcinogens). Therefore, smokers develop cancerous tumors in the respiratory tract much more often than non-smokers.

Psychogenic breathing disorders

The vast majority of questions from readers of our resource addressed to our specialists contain complaints of difficulty breathing, a lump in the throat, a feeling of shortness of breath, a feeling of stopping breathing, pain in the heart or chest, a feeling of tightness in the chest and associated feelings of fear and anxiety

In most cases, these symptoms are not associated with either lung or heart disease and are a manifestation of hyperventilation syndrome, a very common autonomic disorder that affects 10 to 15% of the entire adult population. Hyperventilation syndrome is one of the most common forms of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD).

Symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome are often interpreted as symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, respiratory tract infection, angina, goiter, etc., but in most cases (more than 95%) they are in no way associated with diseases of the lungs, heart, thyroid gland, etc.

Hyperventilation syndrome is closely related to Panic attacks and Anxiety disorders. In this article we will try to explain what the essence of hyperventilation syndrome is, what are the causes of its occurrence, what are its symptoms and signs, as well as how it is diagnosed and treated.

How is breathing regulated and what is the importance of breathing in the human body?

The somatic system includes bones and muscles and ensures human movement in space. The autonomic system is a life support system; it includes all the internal organs necessary to maintain human life (lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys, etc.).

Like the whole body, the human nervous system can also be divided into two parts: autonomic and somatic. The somatic part of the nervous system is responsible for what we feel and what we can control: it provides coordination of movements, sensitivity and is the carrier of most of the human psyche. The autonomic part of the nervous system regulates hidden processes that are beyond our consciousness (for example, it controls metabolism or the functioning of internal organs).

As a rule, a person can easily control the functioning of the somatic nervous system: we (can easily make the body move) and practically cannot control the functions of the autonomic nervous system (for example, most people cannot control the functioning of the heart, intestines, kidneys and other internal organs).

Breathing is the only vegetative function (life support function) subject to human will. Anyone can hold their breath for a while or, on the contrary, do it more often. The ability to control breathing comes from the fact that the respiratory function is under the simultaneous control of both the autonomic and somatic nervous systems. This feature of the respiratory system makes it extremely sensitive to influences from the somatic nervous system and psyche, as well as various factors (stress, fear, overwork) that affect the psyche.

Regulation of the breathing process is carried out at two levels: conscious and unconscious (automatic). The conscious mechanism of breathing control is activated during speech, or various activities that require a special mode of breathing (for example, while playing a wind instrument or blowing). The unconscious (automatic) breathing control system works in cases when a person’s attention is not focused on breathing and is occupied with something else, as well as during sleep. The presence of an automatic breathing control system gives a person the opportunity to switch to other activities at any time without the risk of suffocation.

As you know, during breathing a person releases carbon dioxide from the body and absorbs oxygen. In the blood, carbon dioxide is found in the form of carbonic acid, which creates acidity in the blood. The acidity of the blood of a healthy person is maintained within very narrow limits due to the automatic operation of the respiratory system (if there is a lot of carbon dioxide in the blood, a person breathes more often, if there is little, then less often). An incorrect breathing pattern (too fast or, conversely, too shallow breathing), characteristic of hyperventilation syndrome, leads to changes in blood acidity. Changes in blood acidity against the background of improper breathing give rise to a number of metabolic changes throughout the body, and it is these metabolic changes that underlie the appearance of some symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome, which will be discussed below.

Thus, breathing is the only way a person can consciously influence the metabolism in the body. Due to the fact that the vast majority of people do not know what the effect of breathing on metabolism is and how to “breathe correctly” for this effect to be beneficial, various changes in breathing (including with hyperventilation syndrome) only disrupt metabolism and harm body.

What is hyperventilation syndrome?

Hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is a condition in which the normal breathing control program is disrupted under the influence of mental factors.

For the first time, respiratory disorders characteristic of hyperventilation syndrome were described in the middle of the 19th century in soldiers who took part in military operations (at that time, HVS was called “soldier’s heart”). Early on, a strong link was noted between the onset of hyperventilation syndrome and high levels of stress.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, HVS was studied in more detail and is currently considered one of the most common forms of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD, neurocirculatory dystonia). In patients with VSD, in addition to the symptoms of HVS, other symptoms characteristic of a disorder of the autonomic nervous system may be observed.

What are the main reasons for the development of breathing disorders during hyperventilation syndrome?

At the end of the twentieth century, it was proven that the main cause of all symptoms of HVS (shortness of breath, a feeling of a lump in the throat, a sore throat, annoying coughing, a feeling of being unable to breathe, a feeling of chest tightness, pain in the chest and in the heart area, etc.) are psychological. stress, anxiety, worry and depression. As mentioned above, the respiratory function is influenced by the somatic nervous system and psyche and therefore responds to any changes that occur in these systems (mainly stress and anxiety).

Another reason for the occurrence of HVS is the tendency of some people to imitate the symptoms of certain diseases (for example, cough, sore throat) and to unconsciously reinforce these symptoms in their behavior.

The development of HVS in adulthood can be facilitated by observations of patients with shortness of breath in childhood. This fact may seem unlikely to many, but numerous observations have proven the ability of human memory (especially in the case of impressionable people or people with artistic inclinations) to firmly record certain events (for example, memories of sick relatives or one’s own illness) and subsequently try to reproduce them in real life. life, many years later.

With hyperventilation syndrome, disruption of the normal breathing program (changes in the frequency and depth of breathing) leads to changes in blood acidity and the concentration of various minerals in the blood (calcium, magnesium), which in turn causes the occurrence of such symptoms of HVS as trembling, goosebumps, convulsions, pain in the heart, feeling of muscle stiffness, dizziness, etc.

Symptoms and signs of hyperventilation syndrome.

Different Types of Breathing Disorders

Panic attacks and breathing problems

  • strong heart beats
  • sweating
  • chills
  • shortness of breath, suffocation (feeling of lack of air)
  • pain and discomfort in the left side of the chest
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • a feeling of unreality of the surrounding world or one’s own self
  • fear of going crazy
  • fear of dying
  • tingling or numbness in the legs or arms
  • flashes of hot and cold.

Anxiety Disorders and Breathing Symptoms

Anxiety disorder is a condition in which the main symptom is a feeling of intense internal anxiety. Feelings of anxiety in an anxiety disorder are usually unjustified and are not associated with the presence of a real external threat. Severe internal restlessness in an anxiety disorder is often accompanied by shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air.

  • constant or periodic feeling of shortness of breath
  • a feeling of being unable to take a deep breath or of “not getting air into the lungs”
  • feeling of difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest
  • annoying dry cough, frequent sighs, sniffling, yawning.

Emotional disorders during hot water supply:

  • inner feeling of fear and tension
  • feeling of imminent disaster
  • fear of death
  • fear of open or closed spaces, fear of large crowds of people
  • depression

Muscle disorders during HVS:

  • feeling of numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes
  • spasms or cramps in the muscles of the legs and arms
  • feeling of stiffness in the hands or muscles around the mouth
  • pain in the heart or chest

Principles of development of HVS symptoms

Very often, this may be a hidden or not fully realized concern about the patient’s state of health, a past illness (or illness of relatives or friends), conflict situations in the family or at work, which patients tend to hide or unconsciously reduce their significance.

Under the influence of a mental stress factor, the work of the breathing center changes: breathing becomes more frequent, more superficial, and more restless. Long-term changes in the rhythm and quality of breathing lead to changes in the internal environment of the body and to the development of muscle symptoms of HVS. The appearance of muscle symptoms of HVS usually increases the stress and anxiety of patients and thereby closes the vicious circle of the development of this disease.

Respiratory disorders during hot water supply

  • Pain in the heart or chest, short-term increase in blood pressure
  • Occasional nausea, vomiting, intolerance to certain foods, episodes of constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Feeling of unreality of the surrounding world, dizziness, feeling of near fainting
  • A prolonged increase in temperature to .5 C without other signs of infection.

Hyperventilation syndrome and lung diseases: asthma, chronic bronchitis

According to modern statistics, about 80% of patients with bronchial asthma also suffer from HVS. In this case, the trigger point in the development of HVS is precisely asthma and the patient’s fear of the symptoms of this disease. The appearance of HVS against the background of asthma is characterized by an increase in the frequency of attacks of shortness of breath, a significant increase in the patient’s need for medications, the appearance of atypical attacks (attacks of shortness of breath develop without contact with an allergen, at unusual times), and a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment.

All patients with asthma should carefully monitor respiratory parameters during attacks and in the period between them in order to be able to distinguish an asthma attack from an attack of HVS.

Modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of breathing disorders during hot water supply

The minimum examination plan for suspected HVS includes:

The situation in the diagnosis of HVS is often complicated by the patients themselves. Many of them, paradoxically, in no case want to agree that the symptoms they experience are not a sign of a serious illness (asthma, cancer, goiter, angina) and are due to the stress of disruption of the breathing control program. In the assumption of experienced doctors that they are sick with HVS, such patients see a hint that they are “faking the disease.” As a rule, such patients find some benefit in their painful condition (freedom from some responsibilities, attention and care from relatives) and that is why it is so difficult to part with the idea of ​​a “serious illness.” Meanwhile, the patient’s attachment to the idea of ​​a “serious illness” is the most significant obstacle to effective treatment of HVS.

Express diagnostics of hot water supply

To confirm the diagnosis of HVS and treatment, you should contact a neurologist.

Treatment of hyperventilation syndrome

Changing the patient's attitude towards his illness

Breathing exercises in the treatment of breathing disorders during hot water supply

During severe attacks of shortness of breath or a feeling of lack of air, it is recommended to breathe into a paper or plastic bag: the edges of the bag are pressed tightly to the nose, cheeks and chin, the patient inhales and exhales air into the bag for several minutes. Breathing into a bag increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and very quickly eliminates the symptoms of an attack of hot water supply.

To prevent HVS or in situations that may provoke symptoms of HVS, “belly breathing” is recommended - the patient tries to breathe, raising and lowering the stomach due to the movements of the diaphragm, while exhalation should be at least 2 times longer than inhalation.

Breathing should be rare, no more than 8-10 breaths per minute. Breathing exercises should be carried out in a calm, peaceful environment, against the backdrop of positive thoughts and emotions. The duration of the exercises is gradually increased to minutes.

Psychotherapeutic treatment is extremely effective for HVS. During psychotherapy sessions, a psychotherapist helps patients understand the internal cause of their illness and get rid of it.

In the treatment of HVS, drugs from the group of antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Paroxetine) and anxiolytics (Alprazolam, Clonazepam) are highly effective. Drug treatment of GVS is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist. The duration of treatment ranges from 2-3 months to a year.

As a rule, drug treatment for HVS is highly effective and, in combination with breathing exercises and psychotherapy, guarantees the cure of patients with HVS in the vast majority of cases.

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Breathing disorders

General information

Respiration is a set of physiological processes that provide oxygen to human tissues and organs. Also, during the process of breathing, oxygen is oxidized and removed from the body through the metabolism of carbon dioxide and partially water. The respiratory system includes: nasal cavity, larynx, bronchi, lungs. Breathing consists of stages:

  • external respiration (provides gas exchange between the lungs and the external environment);
  • gas exchange between alveolar air and venous blood;
  • transport of gases through the blood;
  • gas exchange between arterial blood and tissues;
  • tissue respiration.

Disturbances in these processes can occur due to illness. Serious breathing problems can be caused by the following diseases:

External signs of breathing problems allow you to roughly assess the severity of the patient’s condition, determine the prognosis of the disease, as well as the location of the damage.

Causes and symptoms of breathing problems

Symptoms of impaired breathing can be caused by various factors. The first thing you should pay attention to is your breathing rate. Excessively rapid or slow breathing indicates problems in the system. Breathing rhythm is also important. Rhythm disturbances lead to different time intervals between inhalations and exhalations. Also, sometimes breathing may stop for a few seconds or minutes, and then reappear. Lack of consciousness may also be due to problems in the respiratory tract. Doctors focus on the following indicators:

  • Noisy breathing;
  • apnea (stopping breathing);
  • rhythm/depth disturbance;
  • Biota breath;
  • Cheyne-Stokes breathing;
  • Kussmaul breathing;
  • quietpnea.

Let us consider the above factors of breathing problems in more detail. Noisy breathing is a disorder in which breathing sounds can be heard from a distance. Disturbances occur due to decreased airway patency. Can be caused by diseases, external factors, rhythm and depth disturbances. Noisy breathing occurs in the following cases:

  • Damage to the upper respiratory tract (inspiratory dyspnea);
  • swelling or inflammation in the upper respiratory tract (shortness of breath);
  • bronchial asthma (wheezing, expiratory shortness of breath).

When breathing stops, the disturbances are caused by hyperventilation of the lungs during deep breathing. Apnea causes the level of carbon dioxide in the blood to decrease, disrupting the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen. As a result, the airways narrow and air movement becomes difficult. In severe cases there is:

  • tachycardia;
  • decreased blood pressure;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • fibrillation.

In critical cases, cardiac arrest is possible, since respiratory arrest is always fatal to the body. Doctors also pay attention during examination to the depth and rhythm of breathing. These disorders may be caused by:

  • metabolic products (slags, toxins);
  • oxygen starvation;
  • traumatic brain injuries;
  • bleeding in the brain (stroke);
  • viral infections.

Lesions of the central nervous system cause Biota respiration. Damages to the nervous system are associated with stress, poisoning, and cerebrovascular accidents. May be caused by encephalomyelitis of viral origin (tuberculous meningitis). Biot's breathing is characterized by alternating long pauses in breathing and normal, uniform breathing movements without disturbing the rhythm.

An excess of carbon dioxide in the blood and a decrease in the functioning of the respiratory center causes Cheyne-Stokes breathing. With this breathing head start, respiratory movements gradually become more frequent and deepen to a maximum, and then move on to more shallow breathing with a pause at the end of the “wave”. Such “wave” breathing is repeated in cycles and can be caused by the following disorders:

  • vascular spasms;
  • strokes;
  • cerebral hemorrhages;
  • diabetic coma;
  • intoxication of the body;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • exacerbation of bronchial asthma (attacks of suffocation).

In children of primary school age, such disorders are more common and usually disappear over the years. Other causes may include traumatic brain injury and heart failure.

A pathological form of breathing with rare rhythmic inhalations and exhalations is called Kussmaul breathing. Doctors diagnose this type of breathing in patients with impaired consciousness. This symptom also causes dehydration.

The type of shortness of breath called tachypnea causes insufficient ventilation of the lungs and is characterized by an accelerated rhythm. It is observed in people with severe nervous tension and after heavy physical work. It usually goes away quickly, but may be one of the symptoms of the disease.

Treatment

Depending on the nature of the disorder, it makes sense to contact an appropriate specialist. Since breathing problems can be associated with many diseases, if you suspect asthma, consult an allergist. In case of intoxication of the body, a toxicologist will help.

A neurologist will help restore normal breathing rhythm after shock and severe stress. If you have a history of infections, it makes sense to contact an infectious disease specialist. For a general consultation with mild breathing problems, a traumatologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, or somnologist can help. In case of severe breathing problems, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Not enough air: causes of breathing difficulties - cardiogenic, pulmonary, psychogenic, others

Breathing is a natural physiological act that occurs constantly and to which most of us do not pay attention, because the body itself regulates the depth and frequency of breathing movements depending on the situation. The feeling of not having enough air is probably familiar to everyone. It may appear after a quick run, climbing stairs to a high floor, or with strong excitement, but a healthy body quickly copes with such shortness of breath, bringing breathing back to normal.

If short-term shortness of breath after exercise does not cause serious concern, quickly disappearing during rest, then prolonged or sudden sudden difficulty breathing can signal a serious pathology, often requiring immediate treatment. Acute lack of air when the airways are blocked by a foreign body, pulmonary edema, or an asthmatic attack can cost life, so any respiratory disorder requires clarification of its cause and timely treatment.

Not only the respiratory system is involved in the process of breathing and providing tissues with oxygen, although its role, of course, is paramount. It is impossible to imagine breathing without the proper functioning of the muscular frame of the chest and diaphragm, the heart and blood vessels, and the brain. Breathing is influenced by blood composition, hormonal status, activity of the nerve centers of the brain and many external reasons - sports training, rich food, emotions.

The body successfully adapts to fluctuations in the concentration of gases in the blood and tissues, increasing the frequency of respiratory movements if necessary. When there is a lack of oxygen or an increased need for it, breathing becomes more frequent. Acidosis, which accompanies a number of infectious diseases, fever, and tumors, provokes increased breathing to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood and normalize its composition. These mechanisms turn on themselves, without our will or effort, but in some cases they become pathological.

Any respiratory disorder, even if its cause seems obvious and harmless, requires examination and a differentiated approach to treatment, therefore, if you feel that there is not enough air, it is better to immediately go to a doctor - a general practitioner, cardiologist, neurologist, or psychotherapist.

Causes and types of breathing problems

When a person has difficulty breathing and lacks air, they speak of shortness of breath. This symptom is considered an adaptive act in response to an existing pathology or reflects the natural physiological process of adaptation to changing external conditions. In some cases, it becomes difficult to breathe, but the unpleasant feeling of lack of air does not arise, since hypoxia is eliminated by an increased frequency of respiratory movements - in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, working in breathing apparatus, or a sharp rise to altitude.

Dyspnea can be inspiratory or expiratory. In the first case, there is not enough air when inhaling, in the second - when exhaling, but a mixed type is also possible, when it is difficult to both inhale and exhale.

Shortness of breath does not always accompany illness; it can be physiological, and this is a completely natural condition. The causes of physiological shortness of breath are:

  • Physical exercise;
  • Excitement, strong emotional experiences;
  • Being in a stuffy, poorly ventilated room, in the highlands.

Physiological increased breathing occurs reflexively and goes away after a short time. People in poor physical shape who have a sedentary “office” job suffer from shortness of breath in response to physical effort more often than those who regularly visit the gym, pool, or simply take daily walks. As general physical development improves, shortness of breath occurs less frequently.

Pathological shortness of breath can develop acutely or be a constant concern, even at rest, significantly worsening with the slightest physical effort. A person suffocates when the airways are quickly closed by a foreign body, swelling of the laryngeal tissues, lungs and other serious conditions. When breathing in this case, the body does not receive the required even minimum amount of oxygen, and other severe disturbances are added to shortness of breath.

The main pathological reasons why it is difficult to breathe are:

  • Diseases of the respiratory system - pulmonary shortness of breath;
  • Pathology of the heart and blood vessels - cardiac shortness of breath;
  • Disorders of the nervous regulation of the act of breathing - central type shortness of breath;
  • Violation of the blood gas composition - hematogenous shortness of breath.

Heart reasons

Heart disease is one of the most common reasons why it becomes difficult to breathe. The patient complains that he does not have enough air and there is pressure in the chest, notes the appearance of swelling in the legs, cyanosis of the skin, fatigue, etc. Typically, patients whose breathing is impaired due to changes in the heart are already examined and even take appropriate medications, but shortness of breath can not only persist, but in some cases it gets worse.

With heart pathology, there is not enough air when inhaling, that is, inspiratory shortness of breath. It accompanies heart failure, can persist even at rest in its severe stages, and is aggravated at night when the patient is lying down.

The most common causes of cardiac dyspnea:

  1. Cardiac ischemia;
  2. Arrhythmias;
  3. Cardiomyopathy and myocardial dystrophy;
  4. Defects - congenital ones lead to shortness of breath in childhood and even the neonatal period;
  5. Inflammatory processes in the myocardium, pericarditis;
  6. Heart failure.

The occurrence of breathing difficulties in cardiac pathology is most often associated with the progression of heart failure, in which either there is no adequate cardiac output and the tissues suffer from hypoxia, or congestion occurs in the lungs due to failure of the left ventricular myocardium (cardiac asthma).

In addition to shortness of breath, often combined with a dry, painful cough, people with cardiac pathology experience other characteristic complaints that make diagnosis somewhat easier - pain in the heart area, “evening” swelling, cyanosis of the skin, irregular heartbeat. It becomes more difficult to breathe in a lying position, so most patients even sleep half-sitting, thus reducing the flow of venous blood from the legs to the heart and the manifestations of shortness of breath.

symptoms of heart failure

During an attack of cardiac asthma, which can quickly turn into alveolar pulmonary edema, the patient literally suffocates - the respiratory rate exceeds 20 per minute, the face turns blue, the neck veins swell, and the sputum becomes foamy. Pulmonary edema requires emergency care.

Treatment of cardiac dyspnea depends on the underlying cause that caused it. An adult patient with heart failure is prescribed diuretics (furosemide, veroshpiron, diacarb), ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril, etc.), beta blockers and antiarrhythmics, cardiac glycosides, oxygen therapy.

Diuretics (diacarb) are indicated for children, and drugs of other groups are strictly dosed due to possible side effects and contraindications in childhood. Congenital defects in which a child begins to choke from the very first months of life may require urgent surgical correction and even heart transplantation.

Pulmonary causes

Pathology of the lungs is the second reason leading to difficulty breathing, and both difficulty in inhaling and exhaling is possible. Pulmonary pathology with respiratory failure is:

  • Chronic obstructive diseases - asthma, bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary emphysema;
  • Pneumo- and hydrothorax;
  • Tumors;
  • Foreign bodies of the respiratory tract;
  • Thromboembolism in the branches of the pulmonary arteries.

Chronic inflammatory and sclerotic changes in the pulmonary parenchyma greatly contribute to respiratory failure. They are aggravated by smoking, poor environmental conditions, and recurrent infections of the respiratory system. Shortness of breath is initially disturbing during physical exertion, gradually becoming permanent as the disease progresses to a more severe and irreversible stage of its course.

With lung pathology, the gas composition of the blood is disrupted, and a lack of oxygen occurs, which, first of all, is lacking in the head and brain. Severe hypoxia provokes metabolic disorders in the nervous tissue and the development of encephalopathy.

Patients with bronchial asthma are well aware of how breathing is disrupted during an attack: it becomes very difficult to exhale, discomfort and even pain in the chest appears, arrhythmia is possible, sputum is difficult to separate when coughing and is extremely scarce, the neck veins swell. Patients with such shortness of breath sit with their hands on their knees - this position reduces venous return and the load on the heart, alleviating the condition. Most often, it is difficult for such patients to breathe and lack air at night or in the early morning hours.

In a severe asthmatic attack, the patient suffocates, the skin becomes bluish, panic and some disorientation are possible, and status asthmaticus may be accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness.

In case of breathing problems due to chronic pulmonary pathology, the patient’s appearance changes: the chest becomes barrel-shaped, the spaces between the ribs increase, the neck veins are large and dilated, as well as the peripheral veins of the extremities. The expansion of the right half of the heart against the background of sclerotic processes in the lungs leads to its failure, and shortness of breath becomes mixed and more severe, that is, not only the lungs cannot cope with breathing, but the heart cannot provide adequate blood flow, filling the venous part of the systemic circulation with blood.

There is also a lack of air in the case of pneumonia, pneumothorax, hemothorax. With inflammation of the pulmonary parenchyma, it becomes not only difficult to breathe, the temperature also rises, there are obvious signs of intoxication on the face, and the cough is accompanied by sputum production.

An extremely serious cause of sudden respiratory failure is considered to be the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. This could be a piece of food or a small part of a toy that the baby accidentally inhales while playing. A victim with a foreign body begins to choke, turns blue, quickly loses consciousness, and cardiac arrest is possible if help does not arrive in time.

Thromboembolism of the pulmonary vessels can also lead to sudden and rapidly increasing shortness of breath and cough. It occurs more often in people suffering from pathology of the blood vessels of the legs, heart, and destructive processes in the pancreas. With thromboembolism, the condition can be extremely severe with increasing asphyxia, bluish skin, rapid cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

In some cases, severe shortness of breath is caused by allergies and Quincke's edema, which are also accompanied by stenosis of the lumen of the larynx. The cause may be a food allergen, a wasp sting, inhalation of plant pollen, or a drug. In these cases, both the child and the adult require emergency medical care to relieve the allergic reaction, and in case of asphyxia, tracheostomy and artificial ventilation may be required.

Treatment of pulmonary dyspnea should be differentiated. If the cause is a foreign body, then it must be removed as quickly as possible; in case of allergic edema, the child and adult are advised to administer antihistamines, glucocorticoid hormones, and adrenaline. In case of asphyxia, a tracheo- or conicotomy is performed.

For bronchial asthma, treatment is multi-stage, including beta-adrenergic agonists (salbutamol) in sprays, anticholinergics (ipratropium bromide), methylxanthines (aminophylline), glucocorticosteroids (triamcinolone, prednisolone).

Acute and chronic inflammatory processes require antibacterial and detoxification therapy, and compression of the lungs with pneumo- or hydrothorax, obstruction of the airways by a tumor is an indication for surgery (puncture of the pleural cavity, thoracotomy, removal of part of the lung, etc.).

Cerebral causes

In some cases, breathing difficulties are associated with damage to the brain, because the most important nerve centers that regulate the activity of the lungs, blood vessels, and heart are located there. Shortness of breath of this type is characteristic of structural damage to brain tissue - trauma, neoplasm, stroke, edema, encephalitis, etc.

Disorders of respiratory function in brain pathology are very diverse: it is possible to either slow down or increase breathing, and the appearance of different types of pathological breathing. Many patients with severe brain pathology are on artificial ventilation because they simply cannot breathe on their own.

The toxic effect of microbial waste products and fever leads to an increase in hypoxia and acidification of the internal environment of the body, which causes shortness of breath - the patient breathes frequently and noisily. In this way, the body strives to quickly get rid of excess carbon dioxide and provide tissues with oxygen.

A relatively harmless cause of cerebral dyspnea can be considered functional disorders in the activity of the brain and peripheral nervous system - autonomic dysfunction, neurosis, hysteria. In these cases, shortness of breath is of a “nervous” nature, and in some cases this is noticeable to the naked eye, even to a non-specialist.

With vegetative dystonia, neurotic disorders and banal hysteria, the patient seems to be short of air, he makes frequent breathing movements, and may scream, cry and behave extremely demonstratively. During a crisis, a person may even complain that he is suffocating, but there are no physical signs of asphyxia - he does not turn blue, and the internal organs continue to work correctly.

Breathing disorders due to neuroses and other mental and emotional disorders can be safely relieved with sedatives, but doctors often encounter patients in whom such nervous shortness of breath becomes permanent; the patient concentrates on this symptom, often sighs and breathes rapidly when under stress or an emotional outburst.

Cerebral dyspnea is treated by resuscitators, therapists, and psychiatrists. In case of severe brain damage with the inability to breathe independently, the patient is given artificial ventilation. In the case of a tumor, it must be removed, and neuroses and hysterical forms of difficulty breathing must be treated with sedatives, tranquilizers and antipsychotics in severe cases.

Hematogenous causes

Hematogenous dyspnea occurs when the chemical composition of the blood is disrupted, when the concentration of carbon dioxide in it increases and acidosis develops due to the circulation of acidic metabolic products. This breathing disorder manifests itself in anemia of various origins, malignant tumors, severe renal failure, diabetic coma, and severe intoxication.

With hematogenous dyspnea, the patient complains that he often does not have enough air, but the process of inhalation and exhalation itself is not disturbed, the lungs and heart do not have obvious organic changes. A detailed examination shows that the cause of rapid breathing, in which there is a feeling that there is not enough air, are shifts in the electrolyte and gas composition of the blood.

Treatment of anemia involves prescribing iron supplements, vitamins, a balanced diet, and blood transfusions, depending on the cause. In case of renal and liver failure, detoxification therapy, hemodialysis, and infusion therapy are carried out.

Other causes of difficulty breathing

Many people are familiar with the feeling of being unable to breathe for no apparent reason without a sharp pain in the chest or back. Most people immediately get scared, thinking about a heart attack and grabbing validol, but the reason may be different - osteochondrosis, intervertebral disc herniation, intercostal neuralgia.

With intercostal neuralgia, the patient feels severe pain in half of the chest, which intensifies with movement and inhalation; especially impressionable patients may panic, breathe quickly and shallowly. With osteochondrosis, it is difficult to breathe, and constant pain in the spine can provoke chronic shortness of breath, which can be difficult to distinguish from difficulty breathing due to pulmonary or cardiac pathology.

Treatment of difficulty breathing in diseases of the musculoskeletal system includes physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, drug support in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics.

Many expectant mothers complain that as their pregnancy progresses, it becomes more difficult for them to breathe. This sign may be quite normal, because the growing uterus and fetus raise the diaphragm and reduce the expansion of the lungs, hormonal changes and the formation of the placenta contribute to an increase in the number of respiratory movements to provide the tissues of both organisms with oxygen.

However, during pregnancy, breathing should be carefully assessed so as not to miss a serious pathology behind its seemingly natural increase, which could be anemia, thromboembolic syndrome, progression of heart failure due to a defect in the woman, etc.

One of the most dangerous reasons why a woman may begin to choke during pregnancy is pulmonary embolism. This condition is life-threatening and is accompanied by a sharp increase in breathing, which becomes noisy and ineffective. Asphyxia and death without emergency assistance are possible.

Thus, having considered only the most common causes of difficulty breathing, it becomes clear that this symptom can indicate dysfunction of almost all organs or systems of the body, and in some cases it can be difficult to identify the main pathogenic factor. Patients who have difficulty breathing require a thorough examination, and if the patient is suffocating, emergency qualified assistance is needed.

Any case of shortness of breath requires a trip to the doctor to find out its cause; self-medication in this case is unacceptable and can lead to very serious consequences. This is especially true for breathing problems in children, pregnant women and sudden attacks of shortness of breath in people of any age.
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