Suggest Remedies For Breathlessness And Chest Heaviness

Posted on Tue, 13 Sep 2016

Question: I am having trouble breathing here in my condo in Breckenridge, CO (elevation 9800 ft). I have been awake since midnight with what feels like "heaviness" in my bronchial areas. I am bringing up phlegm and am experiencing inability to breath well when I lie down, bringing on panic attacks. I live here part time and have been here since late XXXXXXX I've had this problem two other nights in the last six weeks. I have taken Claritin, Afrin, and have an 02 concentrator, but can't seem to breath properly, relax, or sleep.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Inhalers need to be tried.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. As you already know, the air at higher altitudes is thin. So, the total amount of oxygen that you breathe in, is lesser. Your body has to adapt to be able to do with it. Since you have been living here since late XXXXXXX I assume that your body has already undergone adaptive changes. It seems that still that is not enough. In such a condition your body is probably already stressed and further stress may worsen the condition. As you have mentioned, oxygen concentrator has not been enough to provide you relief. The next step would be to get salbutamol (albuterol) inhaler (bronchodilator - available over the counter). If that works, it is fine. But if not, you are risking getting pulmonary edema and hemorrhage which will push things to worse outcomes. So, if inhalers do not do you good, it might be a high time to come down to lower altitudes.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar