Shortness of breath is the uncomfortable feeling that you are running out of air or are not able to breathe deeply enough and feel “air hungry.” The medical term for this is dyspnea, which may occur when walking, climbing stairs, performing daily activities like cooking or cleaning, or even when sitting still. Shortness of breath can come on gradually over weeks or months or happen suddenly.
Key Facts
- If chest pain or pressure, fainting or nausea accompanies shortness of breath, you should handle this as a medical emergency and contact 9-1-1 or go to your closest hospital.
- Chronic shortness of breath can be managed with the right medication, breathing exercises and physical activity.
What Causes Shortness of Breath?
It is normal for strenuous exercise, extreme temperature change, bad air quality, high altitude, and obesity to make breathing difficult even for a healthy person. But if your breathing has changed suddenly for no obvious reason or is getting slowly worse over time, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. Getting older does not cause shortness of breath, but you may be at greater risk for reasons to become short of breath.
If you are suddenly short of breath, contact your healthcare provider right away. There are many possible causes for this, including:
- Heart attack
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Low blood pressure
- Asthma flare-up
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)
- Emotional distress, anxiety or a panic attack
If your symptoms last for four weeks or longer this may be a sign of a chronic health condition. Many conditions can cause chronic shortness of breath including:
- Chronic lung diseases, including COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension
- Heart disease or congestive heart failure
- Obesity or being overweight
- Poor health or physical deconditioning
Page last updated: September 11, 2025
