Shortness of Breath: Another Reason to Have an Alert1 Medical Device

If you’ve ever had difficulty breathing, you’ve experienced shortness of breath. Known medically as dyspnea, the experience often includes feeling an intense tightness in the chest while having the sensation of suffocating. Several factors can cause shortness of breath, including undertaking very strenuous exercise, being at a high altitude, or having obesity. In elderly folks, shortness of breath is most often caused by a respiratory condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Infection, anemia, muscle weakness, anxiety, and heart disease can also cause the condition.

Shortness of breath can be a scary experience, regardless of its cause. Especially if you don’t know why you’re having trouble breathing, or if you have other symptoms along with shortness of breath, it’s time to press your medical alert device and summon medical assistance. If you’ve experienced shortness of breath in the past, or if you have a condition that makes the experience a possibility, having a medical alert system in your house or on your person can provide a great relief.

People experience shortness of breath for a variety of reasons. In younger people, the experience is often tied to strenuous exercise, asthma, anemia, and anxiety. Older people, however, have a different set of potential causes.

• Heart function can also decrease as a person ages. The heart is responsible for moving oxygen around the body; if the organ malfunctions, you won’t receive the oxygen you need. This could be one reason why shortness of breath is associated with heart attacks.
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known colloquially as COPD, is more common in older adults. The chronic inflammatory lung disease causes obstructed airflow, which can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and mucus production. 
  
• One of the most common reasons for shortness of breath this year has been COVID-19, novel coronavirus. Nearly any infectious disease that targets the respiratory system can cause breathing difficulty that requires immediate medical attention. 

  People experience shortness of breath for a variety of reasons. In younger people, the experience is often tied to strenuous exercise, asthma, anemia, and anxiety. Older people, however, have a different set of potential causes.

  • Heart function can also decrease as a person ages. The heart is responsible for moving oxygen around the body; if the organ malfunctions, you won’t receive the oxygen you need. This could be one reason why shortness of breath is associated with heart attacks.
    
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known colloquially as COPD, is more common in older adults. The chronic inflammatory lung disease causes obstructed airflow, which can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and mucus production. 
    
  • One of the most common reasons for shortness of breath this year has been COVID-19, novel coronavirus. Nearly any infectious disease that targets the respiratory system can cause breathing difficulty that requires immediate medical attention. 
    
  • The lungs change as we age, and as you get older, you may experience a gradual decline in lung function. The respiratory muscles can weaken, and air sacs in the organ can collapse more easily. Even if you do not have any respiratory conditions, it is not uncommon to experience occasional shortness of breath as you age.
    
  • Smoking is a common cause of shortness of breath. If you are a smoker who routinely experiences the inability to breathe, it is important to quit and avoid secondhand smoke.
• The lungs change as we age, and as you get older, you may experience a gradual decline in lung function. The respiratory muscles can weaken, and air sacs in the organ can collapse more easily. Even if you do not have any respiratory conditions, it is not uncommon to experience occasional shortness of breath as you age.
  
• Smoking is a common cause of shortness of breath. If you are a smoker who routinely experiences the inability to breathe, it is important to quit and avoid secondhand smoke.

Having shortness of breath is scary, especially since you may not know how dangerous the situation is until you get checked out. You may have the occasional struggle while walking up the stairs, but it can be difficult to understand the difference between that experience and complications from lung disease. Shortness of breath can also sometimes render people unable to speak. This means you may not be able to call for help, phone a family member, or contact an emergency system on your own.

Alert1 is the best way to ensure you get the help you need. Our medical alert systems allow members to immediately and wordlessly contact emergency support, regardless of the condition you are experiencing. Our devices can be placed in the home or worn on the body and allow members to immediately and wordlessly contact emergency support. If shortness of breath causes fainting, some devices can even detect the fall and contact support for you. If you experience frequent shortness of breath, or if you have an underlying illness that may cause the condition, a medical alert can save your life.