Shortness of breath might have many possible causes. Obstruction of the air passages in the nose, mouth or throat might lead to difficulty breathing. Heart disease can cause breathlessness if the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply oxygen to the body.

At the same time, part of the blood does not reach the heart in time, so it remains a little longer in the lungs. If this fluid is not removed from the lungs for a longer period, it might cause pulmonary edema, which further interferes with the breathing.

Sometimes emotional distress, such as anxiety, might lead to difficulty breathing. Other specific causes include: asthma, emphysema, and pneumonia, any kind of airway obstruction, allergies, coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias, obesity, hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and panic attacks.


Given the data you provided (the symptoms started after funeral) there is quite possibly a high probability that you are experiencing difficulty breathing due to panic attacks. However, since there are many reasons for difficulty breathing, certain of which are very serious, visiting your family doctor is highly recommended. If s/he is not able to rule out all the other causes, a referral to a cardiologist or pulmologist might be suggested. If all other causes are ruled out, medications for treating the panic attacks (sedatives) might be recommended by your doctor. Please do not try to treat yourself since inadequate treatment for a wrong diagnosis might cause more serious conditions.