Dr. Cian O'Sullivan
In personOnlineIMC verified
Breathlessness
Breathlessness means feeling short of air, unable to take a full breath, or breathing faster than usual. It can come from the lungs, heart, blood, anxiety or infection, and severe or sudden breathlessness needs urgent care.
When to get emergency care
Get emergency help immediately if you have any of these:
- Severe breathlessness at rest or inability to speak full sentences.
- Blue lips, grey skin, confusion, fainting or extreme drowsiness.
- Breathlessness with chest pain, sweating, nausea or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back.
- Breathlessness with coughing blood, one-sided leg swelling, or sudden sharp chest pain.
- Noisy breathing, choking, severe wheeze, or swelling of face, lips or tongue.
Get emergency help or call 112
Common causes
- Asthma, allergy or airway narrowing.
- Chest infection, pneumonia or tuberculosis.
- Heart problems or fluid overload.
- Anaemia or low blood count.
- Anxiety or panic after dangerous causes have been considered.
What to expect at your consultation
- Clinicians may check oxygen level, breathing rate, pulse and blood pressure.
- A chest examination, ECG, chest X-ray or blood tests may be needed.
- Urgency depends on oxygen level, severity and associated symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
- Is breathlessness an emergency?
- Sudden, severe, worsening or resting breathlessness can be an emergency, especially with chest pain, blue lips or confusion.
- Can anxiety cause breathlessness?
- Yes, but heart, lung and blood causes should be considered when symptoms are new, severe or unusual.
- Can chest infection cause breathlessness?
- Yes. Fever, cough, chest pain or low oxygen symptoms with breathlessness should be checked promptly.
- Which specialist helps with breathlessness?
- A pulmonologist often assesses lung causes. A cardiologist may be needed if heart symptoms are present.
Not sure how urgent this is?
Answer a few questions and we will tell you how soon to be seen.
Check my symptomsWhich doctor should I see?
- Pulmonologist Best fit when breathlessness may be linked to lungs, airways or oxygen levels.
- Cardiologist Important when breathlessness comes with chest pain, swelling, palpitations or heart risk.
- General Physician Can assess broad causes such as anaemia, infection and anxiety.
Not sure? See a general physician
Related doctors
Verified profiles for breathlessness start with pulmonologist.
Not sure which doctor fits? See a general physician