Facing difficulty in breathing- visit your ENT specialist
Breathing is the most quintessential activity in our life. It is important that we take proper care of our breathing system otherwise we may face difficulties in breathing. Dyspnoea is the scientific term for difficulty in breathing. It is characterized by the feeling of not having enough air drawn into the lungs. A person who experiences dyspnoea feels like a boulder is placed on his chest. Efforts are required for the otherwise activity of breathing. This might cause serious pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases and if you experience such issues you must see an ENT specialist.
Other symptoms of difficulty in breathing
Chest pain: Pain in the chest even while not doing physical activity is a symptom of difficulty in breathing.
Bloody sputum: Coughing out blood along with sputum is an indication of dyspnoea.
Pleurisy: Swelling up of an inner lining of the lungs is called pleurisy.
Dizziness: If you feel giddy often, it may be a sign that you are suffering from dyspnoea.
Neck pain: Pain in the region between the collarbones in the neck can be a symptom of dyspnoea.
Wheezing: Chest sounds while breathing is called wheezing.
Tinnitus: it is the perception of noise ringing in the ears for a long time.
Asthma: It is the conditions where person’s airways become inflamed and create difficulties in breathing.
Causes of difficulty in breathing
Larynx or pharynx cancer: Cancer, in layman’s terms can be defined as unrestricted growth of a body part. The larynx and pharynx are in the path of air reaching the lungs. If there is congestion, a person can face difficulty in breathing.
Pulmonary aspiration: This is the case when some food substance, saliva or vomit gets breathed into the windpipe. This causes dyspnoea. In India, over 1 million cases of pulmonary aspiration are reported.
Vocal cord dysfunction: It is the condition where the vocal cord gets partially or completely closed during inhaling, sometimes exhaling too.
Epiglottis: In this, the epiglottis or the flap that prevents food from entering the windpipe is swollen and thus the path of the air is narrowed. This causes difficulty while breathing.
Empty nose syndrome: It is a rare medical condition in which despite having clear nasal passages, people feel obstruction and dryness in the nose. It can also cause difficulty in breathing.
Laryngeal oedema: It is the accumulation of unwanted fluids in the larynx usually caused by certain allergic reactions. It can give rise to dyspnoea.
All the above-listed causes can be controlled by consulting an ENT specialist if any such symptom is observed. As they say, “Prevention is better than cure.” We must ensure that any allergy in the ears, nose, or throat is not neglected and we get it checked from a specialist as soon as we can.