BREATHLESSNESS

Difficulty in breathing is a common sensation and can be normal if you over exert, but can also be suggestive of an underlying medical problem. Many conditions that affect the heart and its capacity to move blood through the lungs can lead to shortness of breath. Common examples include:

• A ‘silent’ heart attack in which shortness of breath rather than chest pain is the main problem.
• Congestive heart failure (left ventricular dysfunction) is an important cause of breathlessness because the heart muscle is too weak or stiff to pump blood effectively.
• Heart valve diseases
• Heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation.