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What Causes Chronic Shortness Of Breath?

Posted on Thu, 3 Nov 2016

Question: I am 69 and suffering from chronic shortness of breath. This has only really surfaced in the last year or so on a regular basis. I read about all the symptoms for various conditions and there are always a few that simply don't apply, at least not currently. When I wake up in the morning, I feel quite fine and can breath normally. As soon as I exert myself, the shortness of breath takes hold and lasts pretty much all day. I have no chest pain. I have a dry cough but it is not creating mucus. I seem to nap more frequently but I am also recently retired. Oddly enough, when I play golf it seems to alleviate the symptoms and I feel better. Generally, I find the difficulty breathing to be rather pretty depressing especially since I fear the worst. I was a smoker for 40 years and quit completely 10 years ago.

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Shortness of breath can be due to the heart, lungs, anemia,

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,

Shortness of breath can be due to the heart, lungs, anemia, a lot of gas in the abdomen, an obstruction in nose or respiratory passages. You say you are ok at rest and in the morning and have a dry cough. Since you were a smoker, it is possible your respiratory passages got partially and permanently obstructed.

I would therefore suggest the following--
A Haemoglobin, an ECG (even though you say there is no chest pain), an x-ray chest, an ENT check up. This should pretty much rule out most possibilities.

You may revert back to me--Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj