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What Causes Frequent Episodes Of Extreme Breathlessness?
Question: For approximately the last 25 years i have had episodes of extreme breathlessness that occur randomly throughout the day. It feels like when you run really fast and then stop and have to try to catch your breath. My heartbeat speeds up and i often feel dizzy. The triggers to this breathlessness are sudden excitement or stress, getting up to walk after sitting or lying down for a long period of time, any kind of moderate to strenuous exercise. In fact I am unable to do most kinds of exercise more strenuous than walking. I have excessive sweating along with the rapid heart rate and breathlessness. I have had countless tests over the years and nothing has shown up to account for these episodes. I used to be an active person but now I live a much more sedentary life because of the misery these attacks cause. My family doctor told me my autonomic nervous system is "out of whack". My blood pressure fluctuates from extremely high(200/125) to extremely low (70/48). But there is not a correlation between blood pressure and these attacks. I have been tested for dysautonomia and they were inconclusive. I have bipolar disorder but it has been controlled with medication for the last several years. I have been seen by numerous specialists from cardiologists to neurologists, endocrinologists, and psychiatrists. I have come to believe that there is nothing that can be done to alleviate this problem but i just wish I knew what the cause of it is. Can you give me any answers?
Brief Answer:
Panic disorder or obsessive compulsive thoughts due to hidden anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Have noted all your details
As per as your history i dont think that there is any thing wrong with your cardiac nervous or respiratory system ,your age is 62 now ;you say your breathlessness is associated with excitement anxiety and stress (they are the triggers) .Increased heart rate ,breathlessness ,catching breath ,excessive sweating are natural phenomenon of the body to adopt to various physiological changes to cope up with abnormal levels of anxiety in your mind.As you have been through multiple specialities overtime i assume that most of you tests have already been done and are normal.
Frankly speaking after going through your complete history the first thing that strikes my mind is that your anxiety levels are very high ,this increased anxiety has made you obssesive towards your problem ,Panic attacks can be a cause of all these symptoms ,every symptom of you can be explained by panic attack ,Increased anxiety levels are often closely associated with panic attacks.
Bipolar disorder is a broad term which involve high phases low phases mood swings obsessiveness and compulsiveness, a person with bipolar disorder can have multiple panic attacks every day.
There is a possibility that in your case hidden anxiety manifests itselfs as an obsession which again compels you to think again and again about your problem,what i mean to say that its a possibility that your mind is preoccupied by the thought that you are sick for most of the part of the day ,which manifests itself as multiple small episodes of panic attacks.
As the time progressed this obsession give rise to compulsive thoughts ,because of which despite of all normal tests and finding you gave up you active life style and became sedantry.
My ardent suggestion is go for a pyschological councelling,it will help you a lot ,donot over do any exercise ,be hopeful you dont have any diaease,don't think much about your heart rate ,sweating and breathlessness .Start gradually , if you can't walk for 10minutes start with 5minutes repeat it three times a day and as you feel better increase it gradually.Start every thing gradually and try to increase your limits slowly.
A good pyscological therapy and councelling is very essential for you ,keep your self busy ,donot over think ,try to avoid the repeated thoughts in your mind that you have some problem ,try yoga therapy ,meditation should be done daily for half an hour.A psychiatrist consultation in regards to OBSSESIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER and PANIC DISORDERS can be very helpful.
As for your blood pressure fluctuations you have been tested for dysautonomia and the tests were inconclusive that again means that there is no apparent problem with your autonomous nervous system ,its all because of severe anxiety levels you are having from so many years.
Anxiety is often not taken seriously but increased anxiety levels can explian all your symptoms from breathlessness to increased heart rate to labile bp ,as you had been to an endocrinologist so i assume that your serum cortisol and other hormones level are normal .
Dear my suggestion is dont give up ,there is a solution to every problem ,dont get depressed take it as a challenge ,nothing is wrong with you ,just try to over come your hidden anxieties ,start every thing gradually ,pyschological councelling plus a caring pyschaitrist is all that you need !
Get your treatment revised better discuss the possibilities of panic attacks with your pyschiatrist ,speak up all your fears in front of your pyschologist and follow my advise ,within 3months you would start feeling better!
Thank you
If you have any future queries i will be happy to help you !
Dr Rishu Saxena
Panic disorder or obsessive compulsive thoughts due to hidden anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Have noted all your details
As per as your history i dont think that there is any thing wrong with your cardiac nervous or respiratory system ,your age is 62 now ;you say your breathlessness is associated with excitement anxiety and stress (they are the triggers) .Increased heart rate ,breathlessness ,catching breath ,excessive sweating are natural phenomenon of the body to adopt to various physiological changes to cope up with abnormal levels of anxiety in your mind.As you have been through multiple specialities overtime i assume that most of you tests have already been done and are normal.
Frankly speaking after going through your complete history the first thing that strikes my mind is that your anxiety levels are very high ,this increased anxiety has made you obssesive towards your problem ,Panic attacks can be a cause of all these symptoms ,every symptom of you can be explained by panic attack ,Increased anxiety levels are often closely associated with panic attacks.
Bipolar disorder is a broad term which involve high phases low phases mood swings obsessiveness and compulsiveness, a person with bipolar disorder can have multiple panic attacks every day.
There is a possibility that in your case hidden anxiety manifests itselfs as an obsession which again compels you to think again and again about your problem,what i mean to say that its a possibility that your mind is preoccupied by the thought that you are sick for most of the part of the day ,which manifests itself as multiple small episodes of panic attacks.
As the time progressed this obsession give rise to compulsive thoughts ,because of which despite of all normal tests and finding you gave up you active life style and became sedantry.
My ardent suggestion is go for a pyschological councelling,it will help you a lot ,donot over do any exercise ,be hopeful you dont have any diaease,don't think much about your heart rate ,sweating and breathlessness .Start gradually , if you can't walk for 10minutes start with 5minutes repeat it three times a day and as you feel better increase it gradually.Start every thing gradually and try to increase your limits slowly.
A good pyscological therapy and councelling is very essential for you ,keep your self busy ,donot over think ,try to avoid the repeated thoughts in your mind that you have some problem ,try yoga therapy ,meditation should be done daily for half an hour.A psychiatrist consultation in regards to OBSSESIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER and PANIC DISORDERS can be very helpful.
As for your blood pressure fluctuations you have been tested for dysautonomia and the tests were inconclusive that again means that there is no apparent problem with your autonomous nervous system ,its all because of severe anxiety levels you are having from so many years.
Anxiety is often not taken seriously but increased anxiety levels can explian all your symptoms from breathlessness to increased heart rate to labile bp ,as you had been to an endocrinologist so i assume that your serum cortisol and other hormones level are normal .
Dear my suggestion is dont give up ,there is a solution to every problem ,dont get depressed take it as a challenge ,nothing is wrong with you ,just try to over come your hidden anxieties ,start every thing gradually ,pyschological councelling plus a caring pyschaitrist is all that you need !
Get your treatment revised better discuss the possibilities of panic attacks with your pyschiatrist ,speak up all your fears in front of your pyschologist and follow my advise ,within 3months you would start feeling better!
Thank you
If you have any future queries i will be happy to help you !
Dr Rishu Saxena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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