Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath can be a chronic symptom, or it can be caused by an acute infection that could be dangerous if not cleared up with proper treatment. To rule out the possibility of an acute infection, be sure to check your symptoms against the shortness of breath. Shortness of breath, like fatigue and stress, can have many causes. In all cases, your body is not getting the oxygen that it needs. The difference comes in the physiological changes taking place as the result of human immunodeficiency virus that may lead to an increased sensitivity to different stimuli.

Here are some of the most common physiological changes that take place as a result human immunodeficiency virus and that lead to shortness of breath:

• Damage to the air sacs in the lungs, as is the result of some lung infections. Such damage causes the lungs to be less efficient at getting oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out. Although the body can adjust to this change to some extent, when there is a sudden change in your normal breathing pattern the lungs cannot always keep up.
  
• Narrowing of the airways to the air sacs and excess mucus production. Because the airways become narrowed, there is less room for air to flow through to get to the lungs. Excess mucus production also decreases the amount of space available for oxygen to get to the lungs. These changes occur with both asthma and chronic bronchitis.
  
• Oxygen is carried in the red blood cells, so people who are anemic may develop shortness of breath.
  
• The conditioning process can affect the breathing muscles or any of the other muscles in your body. When muscles become deconditioned, they are supposed to do, so they require more energy to perform their activities. In the case of the breathing muscles, the process of clearing the lungs becomes less efficient, and less space is left for fresh air to be inhaled.
  
• Anxiety can speed up your breathing and make it difficult to take full, deep breaths.

There are many causes of shortness of breath, there are many things that you can do to manage this problem.

• Do not stop what you are doing or hurry up to finish when you feel short of breath. Instead, slow down. If shortness of breath continues, stop for a few minutes. If you are still short of breath, take medication if it has been prescribed by your doctor. Often shortness of breath is frightening, and this fear can cause two additional problems. First, fear can cause the body to release hormones that may cause more shortness of breath. Second, fear may cause you to stop your activity and thus never build up the endurance necessary to help your breathing. The basic rule is to take things slowly and in steps.
  
• Avoid smoke of others. Avoiding smoke is as important in managing shortness of breath as stopping smoking. This may sometimes be hard to do because smoking friends do not realize how difficult they are making your life.
  
• Drink plenty of fluids if mucus is a problem, unless your doctor has advised you to restrict your fluid intake. The extra fluids will help to thin the mucus and make it easier to cough up. Using a humidifier may also be helpful.
  
• One of the problems that cause shortness of breath is a deconditioning of the diaphragm and breathing muscles. When this deconditioning occurs, the lungs are not able to empty properly, leaving less room for fresh air. Practiced together, pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing can help strengthen and improve the coordination and efficiency of the breathing muscles, as well as decrease the amount of energy needed to breathe. In addition, these two breathing exercises can be used with any of the techniques that use the power of your mind to manage your symptoms or alone, to achieve a state of relaxation.

All the details are given in the above regarding causes and how to avoid from shortness of breath.