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Conditions and Diseases > Asthma Forum > I Can't Take a Deep Breath
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Q: I Can't Take a Deep Breath
asked by: carmen_sandiego on July 13th, 2004
New User
Hi everyone

i came across this old message thread from this forum, here:
http://ehealthforum.Com/health/topic2753.H tml

and I wondered if anyone knew what the source of this problem was? I am experiencing almost exactly the same symptoms:
-shortness of breath, especially when physically active
-problems taking a satisfying deep breath
-no noticeable chest pain
-no wheezing, no coughing except when after my run I couldn't get my breath
-doctor reports that bp, heart rate, temp, chest/lung sounds are all normal.
-went for a chest x-ray and haven't heard of any major findings from this.


The doctor prescribed a ventolin inhaler for me for eia but so far it doesn't seem to be changing anything. Yesterday I went for a run and by the end of it I absolutely couldn't catch my breath. It took several minutes before I felt like my breathing and heart rate were returning to normal.


I don't understand this! Is this asthma? If it is asthma, why am I feeling like this throughout the day? It's worse during running, but during the day I still feel like I can't take a proper deep breath.


I couldn't get a doctor's appointment until next week, so right now i'm just very stressed out about this. If there is anyone who has experienced this or knows what could cause these symptoms, I would be most grateful.
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Replies(8)
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wakkochic17
replied on July 13th, 2004
Experienced User
There is a condition known as "exercise induced asthma".. It sounds like it could be that. I have a mild version of it. If I run or exercise real hard I have trouble breathing.. With no wheezing or congestion, just trouble getting a deep breathe. They gave me an inhaler, but I just try to know my limits of what I can do. Walking and biking don't effect me unless it's cold, and those are the things I enjoy (i was never much for running and my knees don't like it any more than my lungs do). It may be they need to try you on a different inhaler. Albuterol worked ok for me.. I also like advair.
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Venugopal
replied on July 16th, 2004
Experienced User
Re: I Cant Take a Deep Breath
If the lung capacity is less there is every likelihood of shortness of breath on slightest exertion. A pulmonary function test should be done which would reveal more about it.
Homeopatic medicine has good remedies to improve the lung capacity when the cause is identified.
Dr.Venugopal gouri.
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vleonica
replied on March 30th, 2008
New User
I cant take a deep breath
For 4 days now I barely been able to take a satisfying breath. 95% are normal short breaths, but very rare deep ones. This for some reason makes me yawn constantly, my lungs trying to get one, but rarely able. If I burp it seems to allow me to take one or two, but in a few minutes it's back to the same short breath. I am not anything more than sitting in my chair, so it's not like I have excersized & am trying to catch my breath after running.
Should I be concerned? Could this be some sympton of that flu that's going around. I have had chronic broncitus all my life & this is nothing in relation to that.
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Jennsw
replied on June 30th, 2008
New User
Can't get a deep breath.
I have had this problem since I was a teenager, roughly 13 or 14. I could be lying down reading a book and suddenly feel like I need air. I breath deep as possible but feel like I'm not getting in the oxygen by body needs. I have the feeling of needing to yawn but it's like when my lungs get full of air, my body is telling me it needs more, but I can't take in anymore air. I take several deep breaths to try to get that feeling of a successful yawn or deep breath. I also sigh a lot, my husband will ask what is wrong? I tell him nothing, I just do that (sighs). I have allergies that have gotten progressively worse over the years and lately my heart palpitates and I get that feeling of needing air. I sometimes feel like I am hyperventilating and or about to cause myself to hyperventilate because I'm trying to get the air I need, then I get dizzy and start feeling like I am going to pass out. Sometimes I feel a little sick and have to sit down. I don't think it is caused by stress although I don't rule it out as a contributing factor. I have noticed that I think sometimes I do not breath normally and I feel like I may go for long periods of shallow breathing, but as soon as I notice it my body automatically starts breathing normally which makes it difficult to say weather or not my breathing is actually shallow. But I think that I get preoccupied with things and my body automatically starts breathing shallow and once this has gone on for a period of time (length of time is unknown) the body will start telling my mind, OKAY I need air! Which takes a while and lots of deep breaths to actually get the oxygen in the body that has been depleted while breathing so shallow and takes some time for the body to recover. This may happen for some people during stress because we get so preoccupied with the stressful things in our lives that we breath shallow more often. I say we but I'm really talking from my own experiences. I know there is nothing wrong with me physically because I have good insurance and regular check-up's. But I think there is a difference in how my body works, such as periods of conservation such as shallow breathing, then the catch-up period where suddenly by body needs large amounts of oxygen to replenish the depletion that has occurred.
However, I also worry that it may have something to do with allergies, heart disease that runs in my family, diabetes, lack of exercise, (I have pretty good eating habits), clogged arteries/high cholesterol, and/or being overweight, or asthma. I have no sighs of most of these except allergies, overweight and lack of exercise. So I am inclined to believe that I wont' die from it.

Reading everyone's experiences has helped me a lot and I appreciate everything everyone has posted on here, I thought this was something I was going through alone and It helps to know I'm not. Not that im glad anyone is experiencing the same things. I hope my view on my experiences helps someone understand their breathing issues and maybe some of you will pay a little closer attention and see the same signs i have described about, If so, I would like to read anything anyone posts in response to my post.
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alicat9122
replied on August 12th, 2009
New User
I have the same symptoms. I might be fine for a coupe of days or even weeks, then wham I start this weird breathing thing. I have an albuterol inhaler, pretty ineffective. I have had blood tests, thought lung clot in lungs, not. Pulmonary function test-said chronic bronchitis. Don't have any bronchitis, no cough or mucus or anything of the such. Then sent to have a heart stress test. Flunked, they convinced me I had possible heart blockage so submitted to an angiogram because this would be the all knowing test. Found small arteries but no blockage. Dr. didn't even tell me these results. He wanted to do a heart ct scan. Insurance said no.

I know nothing after all this and still can't breathe.

Any ideas. Some times I get soo tired and my back aches from trying so hard to breathe.

Please help.
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marshall4480
replied on August 23rd, 2009
New User
I could copy and paste the symptoms that you all have for my own. It seems that when I'm sitting down I start to have to work really hard at breathing. When I'm busy it seems goes away. Inhalers do not work and caffeine seems to make it worse which makes me think that it is a heart or lung problem. At first I thought I was allergic to sulfites but that doesn't seem to be the case now. I have no pain or weasing. I exercise just fine. I have an identical twin brother who has none of the problems that I do. The differences in our diets were that I drank red bulls usually during work and took caffeine when I worked out. I remember getting sick with a cough right before this all started to happen. I actually went to the doctor because I thought I had "Walking Pneumonia". The Doctor heard no weasing, but notice when I did the "blow test" that it was a little lower than usual. He prescribed me an inhaler which did nothing. I can't believe that no one has found a cause for this. Thanks you guys.

Keep your heads up.
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flower908
replied on October 5th, 2009
New User
ReAlLY sIcK
i am really Sick i cant walk or ill cough cause i get nerves my mom really wants me to go to school! but i am coughing badly D: so i did not go to school today.So she got mad. so now i am checking this out.please help....
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mmcoffman
replied on November 4th, 2009
New User
Some suggestions if you have trouble breathing but don't think you have asthma or asthma treatment isn't working. You might have Vocal Cord Dysfunction, see an ENT. You could have Hyperventilation Syndrome. Both are curable by breathing exercises. Also, reducing or dealing with stress/anxiety will go a long ways with all three of these medical conditions!
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