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Constant Shortness of Breath

Hi,im a 22 year old male and i've been dealing with this constant shortness of breath for over 6-7 years now. I written on a forum about this before but just hadd to write one again. Its hard to say but doctors have no idea what's wrong with me.I see so mnay people dealing with this problem and it seems like theres no diagnosis. It just strated outta the blue I went to take a deep breath and i couldnt get that last bit of hair to satisfy the breath and this whole vicious cycle started. After that for about 2 years i was constantly taking deep breaths and not able to get a satisfied breath. I WAS CONSTANTLY YAWNING>SIGNING AND TAKIN UNSATISFIED DEEP BREATH ALL DAY LONG. I had reached the point when i was staying home in my bed just hoping i would die so it would stop.  After 2 years or so it seemed to just go away. It then came back right after i smoked a cigarette . Ever since then its been an ongoing struggle. I feel as if i have no control of my life, and im constantly thinking of my breathing. I feel hopeless and feel as if no one understands what im going through or that i have this disease that doctors cant detect. My doctor has put me on xanax for anxiety and it seemed to cut the edge off a lil but its still there. Its not as bad as when i first got it but it still disrupts my life. I can only work 2 days, i don't go to school  and i don't have much of a happy life .I've gone to cardiologist, ent's, gi's, pulmonary doctors. I've gone through xrays, PFT, EKG, stress tests, endoscopy . Only thing i have is GERD/LPR with sinsation of lump in throat and a very small irregular heart beat. I also am constantly clearing my throat.I heard that can be because of the Gerd/LPR. I just took a new PFT test and my breathing is normal. i did have a deviated septum but got that fixed..My lung specialist says its just all in my head and that i have this because ive become aware of my breathing pattern. i've used advair, singular and breathing pumps for asthma with no results. when im sitting or laying down its seems to be fine but when i stand up or move it kicks in more. I'm losing hope on what's going on with me. Does anyone have this?If so can anyone recommend anything else i should look for? the only thing i really want to do is a MRI or CT scan but doctors say 99 percent sure nothing will show.Has anyone heard of chronic hyperventilation syndrome? or phrenic nerve damage? if anyone can be of help please email me or post a message?
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Avatar universal
Hey guys! I've been dealing with this too - and from the comments above, one thing I've noticed that we ALL have in common is anxiety. Think that's a coincidence? :)

I hope this helps: In addition to the 4 7 8 breathing technique (which totally works), I've turned to jogging, and it works wonders.

The thing is, my brain has tricked me into thinking that my body needs more air when it doesn't. By running, I force it to come to grips with what needing air REALLY feels like. This has accomplished so many things for me:

1.) I'm in better shape, and more healthy
2.) It's like a reset button when I'm having one of those "attacks" where I focus too hard on my breathing
3.) Running in general improves anxiety symptoms
4.) ...but it also improves anxiety for people who "worry that they'll die" from not being able to breathe; because really, how can that be true if you can run?

If you're unable to jog for whatever reason, no worries at all - just do something to make yourself feel out of breath, and try to do it every day. And if you're having trouble at work, use the 4 7 8 technique.

I really hope that helps! Our minds are our biggest enemy, and if there's one thing I've learned, that's a problem that only smart people seem to have. :)
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Avatar universal
Sounds like stress and anxiety. The body goes into a fight or flight mode when it is under a tremendous amount of stress whether your brain actually realizes it or not. Which can cause unnoticeable shallow breathing. The feeling of shortness of breath that goes away when busy or occupied points to the symptom of actually having too much oxygen in the body, creating an imbalance of oxygen and C02. A form of hyperventilation. It causes a decrease in the amount of a gas in the blood (called carbon dioxide, or CO2). This decrease may make you feel lightheaded, have a rapid heartbeat, and be short of breath.  It also can lead to numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, anxiety, fainting, and sore chest muscles. There is a breathing technique that I myself thought was total BS until I ran out of straws on why I was short of breath. I had Chest X rays done, blood tests, breathing tests and all came back totally normal. The breathing technique is called the 4 7 8 breathing technique.  Look it up and do it. I swear by it. It really does lower heart rate and increase GABA levels in your body which is the natural chemical your body produces to give you that calm and settled down feeling. The breathing technique also balances out the imbalance of C02 and oxygen that is making you feel like you are short of breath. Try it, I swear by it.
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Avatar universal
I had this problem since forever, I think I got it when I was 15 and I'm 38 now! I even can't remember how I got it and why, went to many dr's through the years did a lot of tests and there's nothing physically wrong, they all say it's physiological and it's a nervous tic and that I should stop it! And quit smoking...I've been having anxiety and panic attacks for the last couple of years, took some medications for depression, I'm always tiered I have no energy, have shortness of breath all the time down most of the time and I have 2 kids and a husband that I have to take care of and be nice with, I'm always edgy and scared, I developed severe fear of flight...I'm really missreable! Please help
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1 Comments
Hi there,
I've been having the same issue. As soon as I wake up, it starts. It can be really uncomfortable and annoying and very scary. This causes me to get even worse with my panic attack. I use to have this issue in 2003 and it lasted 2 years and one night I had major panic attack that my husband called 911 and after the peramedics arrived they ran some tests and said that I need to see a doctor for it. I was prescribed Lexapro and was great for 2 years and with the help of my doctor I wanted to stop the meds. I can say I went without any medication from 2009 to 2015 for 6 years I didn't feel any panic nor anxiety or shortness of breath until August 2015 after having an A**Hole manager at work, my panick attacks returned and shortness of breath has been there since then. I can 100% say that my manager triggered it for it to come back again. Now I'm back on Lexapro started at .05mg but I feel it doesn't help me like it did the first time.
Avatar universal
I am a 47 year old. I have had anxiety and depression on and off since I was 30. About 2 weeks ago I got up to a normal day and was yawning then later in the day I started the shortness of breath after a few days went to the er they admitted me. I had a stress test heart is fine Cray of lungs fine, doc said it was anxiety, maybe it is all in my head and I'm missing a certain chemical, but I am glad I have found others with this whatever it is and I am not crazy. Also it seems when I am concentrating on a project I don't have the urge to get that deep breath, and when I am sleeping. Thank you all for sharing.
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Avatar universal
That is because you are scared to take the xanax. I had the same problem.  I have sever anxiety disorder and depression.  Take your med. / If you are too scared then just take a half of one and relax yourself.
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Avatar universal
I have had this for years.. I do have anxiety disorder and depression. I also have COPD. I have gerd too.  But I wanted to know if any of you have had your thyroids checked. If not, please do so. This is how all my problems with the breathing and anxiety started.  I have hypothyroids.
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