The Causes of Shortness of Breath

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3485, 6 September 1937, Page 7

The Causes of Shortness of Breath

A Doctor Gives Advice, Breathing is one of those bodily functions which goes on day and night with perfect regularity in health. That does not mean that it goes on at the same rate all the time, for, obviously, any exertion speeds it up. while rest slows it down. This cliange of rale is in direct proportion to the speed at which the heart is beating. The normal pulse is, roughly, 72 per minute, and wo take a quarter that number of breaths in the same time. We cannot voluntarily alter the rate, of the heart, but we can of the breathing, so that excitement, worry, etc., affect the latter more quickly than the former. This is obvious if one watches a child falling asleep. Immediately sleep comes on the nature of the breathing alters and becomes quieter and more regular. Because the heart and the lungs are so closely associated people jump to the conclusion that breathlessness is a sure sign of heart, trouble. This is far from being the case. Any Illness, particularly if it is a sharp one, with rise in temperature, leaves a tendency to breathlessness during convalescence. What has happened Is that the whole body has got out of training through lack of exercise and loss of food and sleep, and at the same time all the muscles, including those which work the heart and the lungs, have got flabby from the effects of the poisons produced by the illness.

All these after-effects are very temporary, and soon the breathlessness becomes less noticeable. While it is there, however, it is a very useful reminder to take things easy, and should not be disregarded. Over-eating is almost as common a cause, and takes effect, in several ways. The stomach, which is dilated with a very large meal, or too much liquid, or is blown up with flatulence, interferes with the proper movements of breathing, and probably also “pressed on the heart," the stomach being just below that organ. If over-eating is persisted in, then increase in weight adds to the work to be don© by the body itself, and, more particularly, by the heart and lungs, and the person finds his breath gets shorter and shorter.

The only cure for this sort of thing is drastically to cut. down the amount eaten, and at the same time gradually to take more and more exercise.

Any interference with the free flow of air in and out of the lungs can cause breathlessness. An ordinary cold in the head or anything else which blocks the nostrils does this.

Any injury to the chest walls through a blow or a strain, or any impeding of them by tight or too heavyclothing makes threathing laborious, and in the end leads to breathlessness. The man with a touch of rheumatism in his side may bo nearly as short of breath as the man -who has a local pleurisy or a broken rib. Appropriate treatment for these conditions at once cures the breathlessness.

The most typical form caused by interference with the flow of the air is asthma. Here a spasm of the air tubes makes breathing out difficult, and the lungs get full so that further breaths are almost impossible without a terrifice struggle.

Although we still know far too little about asthma, we at least have preparations which will out short an attack in a few minutes. These may be injected, taken in tablet form, or used as a spray, but, as they are all powerful remedies and their effect varies on the different people, they should not be tried without a doctor’s permission. Bronchitis, particularly the chronic variety, is another important cause of breathlessness, unfortunately more difficult to deal with in had weather. People who are approaching old age and have been healthy most of thendays should not make light of increasing shortness of breath. It may have quite a number of innocent explanations. but. it is also possibly due to a heart which is needing care and attention.

Do not get alarmed because of (his possibility, however. Have a thorough overhaul. If nothing is found then yon can take It that this is nature’s way of telling you to go easy and think of retiring.

If a cardiac cause is found then the chances are that the appropriate treatment will prevent any really serious trouble developing, for Nature likes to give early warning of important, alterations in the body.