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What Causes Feeling Of Shortness Of Breath?

Posted on Wed, 18 May 2016

Question: I feel like a get a shortness of breath (although I can fill my lungs with air and it really has nothing to do with my lungs) until I gulp water and burp it out. Then it builds again and the same thing happens. It only started happening 2 weeks ago after I did this extensive herbal cleanse and my food starting getting stuck when I swallowed. Just had an endoscopy and everything appear normal. What can this be? Will it go away?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained in detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome

Your concern is appreciated

Anxiety can be one of the causes other most likely causes can be diffuse esophageal spasm and nut craker esophagus but these produce sunsternal pain simulating angina . Other is globus hystericus pharyngeus a functional disorder in which patient complain of lump like sensation in throat and dysphagia its too attributed to psychogenic causes.
Sticking of food has many causes , GERD is one of it
Other are acahlasia esophageal tumors , webs, spasm, stricture,

As endoscopy was normal so it can be due to GERD
For that PPIs and antacids are advised diet modification are also helpful
Avoid coffee spicy foods carbonated drinks.

You can discuss these options with your doctor.

let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before taking any further course of action

wishing you best of health

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

The issue is is that I can barely eat anything without side effects. Coffee or other acid causing foods are no where in my diet. What I am experiencing now is excessive gas that makes me feel like I cannot breathe. Could it be because my digestive tract is so inflammed that everything is irritating it? I do not see that you answered my actual question.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

I am sorry for your distress.

Your previous complaints didnt include excessive gas as a symptom but any way excessive gas may be due to multiple factors it can be due to either swallowing air when eating or the diet you are having e.g diary products certain sugar and starch artificial sweetners sorbitol etc some people are more sensitive and they produce more than normal gas , excessive gas signify that food is not digesting completely the gut flora is also very important regarding that.
Medical conditions like GERD , irritable bowl syndrome these can too cause bloating flatulence and belching
Inflammation of GI track comes under inflammatory bowl disease which include chron disease and ulcerative colitis
These diseases have symptoms , diarrhea with excessive mucous and diarhrea with blood respectively for diagnose colonoscopy is done.

Please consult your doctor before taking any further course of action

Wishing you best of health

let me know if you have any query

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar