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Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is an anxiety symptom.
It can be triggered when you feel anxious.
In turn, being unable to catch your breath can cause you to feel more anxious.
Facundo Diaz Montes / Getty Images
There are some ways to tell if anxiety is the cause of yourshortness of breath.
Comes on Suddenly
Shortness of breath that suddenly occurs could be linked to ananxiety attack.
People who experience anxiety or panic attacks report that they often come on without warning.
Anxiety symptoms, besides shortness of breath, include:
4.
Shortness of breath that lasts longer than 30 minutes could be a sign of a different physical cause.
(But that’s not to say that anxiety can’t cause longer-lasting shortness of breath).
Once that stressor goes away, your anxiety and shortness of breath may resolve.
Improves with Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniquescan help with anxiety symptoms.
For example, diaphragmatic breathing can help calm the overactive nervous system and regulate breathing.
When to Seek Emergency Care
In some cases, shortness of breath can be a medical emergency.
The fight-or-flight response is a body mechanism intended to keep humans safe from threats.
However, as humans have evolved, they are exposed to fewer threats.
There are 12 recognized types ofanxiety disorder.
Some of the other strategies to manage shortness of breath include:
Can You Prevent It?
Managing your anxiety can help prevent future episodes of shortness of breath.
There are othermedicationsthat a healthcare provider may prescribe to treat long-term anxiety.
These include:
People with anxiety can also benefit fromtherapy.
A therapist may teach you specific breathing techniques to try and ways to prevent panic attacks.
The two are linked through a physiological process called the fight-or-flight response.
Breathing techniques can help you manage shortness of breath in the moment.
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National Health Service.Shortness of breath.
Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.
University of Rochester Medical Center.5-4-3-2-1 coping technique for anxiety.
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