Have you been diagnosed with anxiety? Many of us that have anxiety also have trouble breathing at times. I think it's because we breathe shallow. Can you say what kind of tests you were given?
Hey -
I'm not sure how old you are, but yes, I started feeling this way in the early 90s after my 2nd bout of pneumonia. I was in my early 30s when I started noticing my breathing problems. Mid-90s, I had pulmonary tests, and I was told nothing is wrong; I am in the top 10% of healthy breathing people. I was relieved, but perplexed. I thought I had athletic induced asthma due to the asthmatic breathing I incurred, esp during mtn biking rides. Nothing like other mtn bike riders I rode with; which seemed to breathe much easier than me on climbs.
I am so used to feeling like I run out of breathe, I have adapted. Many times, I catch myself feeling like I'm running out of breath when I am talking to another person -- I don't get it. So, I just try breathing in deeper and relaxing more. When I jog, snowshoe, or ride my bike up a hill, I am slow and breathless, but not light-headed. However, I feel that I do breathe better in cooler weather, i.e. early morning outdoor workouts or snowshoe times.
I was born in a high-altitude town, and I have heard from two different sources about health tests, one was on livestock and the other on babies born at high-altitude. Of course, my Dad was born in the same high-altitude town and he has no issues. I have chalked up my air-breathing issues to having pneumonia and bad air that I created in small unventilated rooms, i.e. using tons of hairspray in a bathroom when getting ready to go out.
I also smoked cigs for 22 yrs and I quit in '92. But, I continued to smoke pot until early 2000. My lungs can't handle it, and they physically hurt when I would breathe in the smoke; so I said no-more. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ever quit. But, I like breathing and moving.
I think for anyone who experiences breathing hardships, he or she will have different causes. For me, and with some of the above mentioned, I just think I forgot how to breathe deep or correctly. I used to play the flute as a child and I had to have to good breathing techniques. I know it can sound odd because breathing is second nature. But, I catch myself just breathing many times in the upper part of my lungs, not deep down in the depths of my lungs. I feel better after I breathe in deeply that fills up the lower part of my lungs. Sometimes, when I'm out-of-breathe, I can't do this...so, I have to wait until my heart rate is lower, i.e. decreased cardio movement.
You may want to check with the National Jewish Hospital; or a specialized pulmonary hospital in your area.
Best wishes,