Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath. In general, dyspnea occurs when your lungs are not receiving a sufficient supply of oxygen or when the flow of oxygen in and out of the lungs is disrupted or hindered. While it can be a symptom of a life-threatening medical emergency or a serious health problem, typically involving the heart or lungs, temporary dyspnea can also be experienced after rigorous physical activity, such as an intense workout, or with a stress or anxiety-induced panic attack. As such, dyspnea can range from mild and temporary to chronic or life-threatening. Either way, it is vital to take any episode of dyspnea seriously to rule out or receive treatment for any potentially life-threatening medical emergency or serious medical condition.

Examples of life-threatening medical emergencies that dyspnea could be a sign of, for which you should immediately go to your nearest emergency room, include the following:

-Asthma attack
-Carbon monoxide poisoning
-Chronic obstructive pulmonary
-Heart failure
-Low blood pressure
-Pneumonia
-Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)

Examples of chronic or serious medical conditions that dyspnea could indicate include the following:

-Asthma
-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
-Heart disease
-Interstitial lung disease, which is scarring of lung tissue
-Obesity

The primary symptom of dyspnea is difficulty breathing, but this can be experienced in different ways along with several other symptoms. Some of these symptoms could include the following:

-Chest tightness
-Coughing
-Feeling of suffocation or of being smothered due to breathing difficulties
-Heart palpitations
-Labored breathing
-Rapid, shallow breathing
-Shortness of breath due to a medical condition or after rigorous physical activity
-Wheezing

If you are looking for a clinic that provides high-quality dyspnea treatment and evaluation in Buffalo, New York, we welcome you to come to Sterling Heart Care! You can find our cardiology clinic at 4330 Maple Rd. in Buffalo, New York. For an appointment, please feel free to schedule one through our website or call us to during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday or on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Depending on the nature of your dyspnea and its causes, treatment options will vary. With that being said, we are proud to offer the following services at Sterling Heart Care for dyspnea treatment:

-Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation
-External counter pulsation (ECP) therapy
-Heart-healthy nutrition
-Stress management

ECP therapy is a non-invasive way to increase blood circulation to and from your heart and throughout your body. In doing so, ECP therapy can also improve dyspnea symptoms by increasing oxygen flow and improving overall lung function.

For more information about any of our dyspnea treatment options at Sterling Heart Care, please feel free to get in touch with us!