All Hearts HCM Symptoms

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is a feeling that one cannot breathe well.

Shortness of breath (SOB), also called dyspnea, is common in heart problems. It is often described as feeling intense tightening in the chest, difficulty breathing, breathlessness, like "an elephant sitting on your chest", or suffocation. SOB does not always mean that a person is ill. It can occur in a healthy person because of strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, or high altitudes. Some atmospheric pollutants can also cause SOB.

Shortness of breath occurs when too little oxygen is taken up through the lungs. It can also occur when too little carbon dioxide is being exhaled. If you are short of breath and it is a new symptom, you need to pay attention to it! If you have been exercising too hard, you need to rest and breathe. If you are at a very high elevation, you need to descend. If you are in temperatures that are unusually hot or cold, you need to seek an environment that is more moderate for you.

Because SOB can come from a heart problem, if your doctor can't find anything wrong with your lungs, or your asthma medicine isn't helping, it's a good idea to ask for a heart examination.

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