Common Causes of Breathing Problems

The more you understand your breathing problems, the better your chances of controlling them. Along with an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan, knowing the cause of the problem can go a long way toward helping you get back to the productive, active life you love. These are just a few of the more common reasons this issue occurs.

The Culprits

Breathing problems come in many different forms. For example, you may have difficulty due to recurring sinusitis attacks, making it very hard to breathe through your nose for as long as one or two weeks. Or you may simply have a cold and you will get back to breathing normally after a few days.

Some issues, however, are chronic. These include asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis and others. They can result in many other symptoms as well, including watery and itchy eyes, congestion of the nose and chest, coughing, wheezing and more.

There are millions of people in the U.S. who suffer from COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Still others suffer from pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung disease or lung cancer.

Diagnosing the Problem

Doctors take many factors into consideration when determining the cause of breathing problems. These include family medical history, the patient’s medical history, a physical exam and many other tests. If you are experiencing this problem, you may undergo a lung function test a chest X-ray. If sinusitis seems to be the cause, you may undergo a special CT scan to test your sinuses.

Treatments

The type of treatment you receive, of course, will depend on the cause of your breathing problems. Decongestants and antihistamines can be very effective in treating allergies, while steroids are sometimes recommended to reduce the inflammation associated with sinusitis.

If you are experiencing breathing problems, get to your nearest Complete Care location as soon as you can so you can get the treatment you need.