Scary shortness of breath

“MY chest feels tight!” “I feel like I am suffocating!” These are just some of the ways a person may describe experiencing shortness of breath, also known as dyspnoea. It’s a common symptom that brings many patients to emergency departments.

Why does it happen? While medical conditions involving the heart, lungs, musculature, mental health, or certain chronic diseases can make a person become breathless, environmental factors such as air pollution, high altitudes, or exposure to noxious gases can also be culprits. Some causes of breathlessness are life-threatening, such as a heart attack or severe lung dysfunction, making it critical for anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.