I have experienced shortness of breath as a result of stress and also anxiety.  We have some stuff going on here and the other day I thought that I was going to have to stop and catch my breath walking up a flight of stairs to the car.  Previously, I had been able to walk up to the car and straight past it for an hour walk without shortness of breath.  I have found that the shortness of breath is much worse, or I perceive it as worse, when swimming because I can only breathe at certain times.  My solution to that was to do strokes when I could breath whenever I want:  heads up breaststroke and crawl, sidestroke, backstroke and a lot of working my legs using the flutterboard.

Graeme,

 I trust your doctor came to the conclusion that you are fine after conducting an extensive examination and tests to rule out an underlying medical condition that may be causing your shortness of breath and fatigue upon exertion. 

I read this wondering whether your doctor had ordered extensive testing.  Many years ago I struggled with what I perceived as shortness of breath and was told it was just a result of the stress in my life.  Unfortunately it wasn't just the stress.  Please - make sure the testing is done.

thank you. I shall do that. there was a lengthy examination, and I just did some blood tests, but somethinig wider may be sensible.

I know that much of the shortness is due to stress. But one never knows. It may not be the whole story.

I'm glad to hear that you will look in to it Graeme.  It certainly is good that the exam and blood tests didn't reveal anything serious and likely further testing won't either but it's wise to cover all the bases.

I had something similar to this after my first blood clot in my lung.  I was on a swimteam and for my first practice back I was getting winded easily and when I tried to do freestyle I had an anxiety attack and had to do back stroke the rest of the way to the wall.  It was linked to my stress and my recent lung troubles.

strange time. The stress and shortness of breath didn't bother me last night, and I slept well. But today was damned umpleasant and uncomfortable and tiring. However, I had taken out a Y membership and signed up for an exercise programme to get better - so, much as I really had to drag myself, I went.

The treadmill was, as always, awful;, and I thought  I'd rather just like down and die right there.

But then I moved to the first of the weight lifting sets, and everything changed. The sun shone. Birds were singing. It was like what Kipling said about the dawn coming up like thunder out of China crost the bay....

Now, I feel good.

 hi graeme - i agree with others ... more investigation is warranted.  I'd suggest asking your doc for a pulmonary function test.  It's really important to be thorough before attributing to 'stress'.

And yes ... stress certain does affect breathing for many folks.  Shallow, quick breathing is inefficient & the most common way people breathe when stressed. Then the shortness of breath creates more stress ... can be one of those downward spirals.  Learning to do diaphragmatic breathing can be really helpful. 

 sorry - duplicate post

I find  I can sort of tell myself to calm down, and I do, and my breathing relaxes. But  I shall also be talking to my doctor this morning.

If the medical tests do not find any physical cause, may I suggest you take up some form of relaxation exercise - yoga, ta chi - where breathing is incorporated.

When people experience stress they tend to instinctively opt for shallow breathing, done long enough it will become natural and you will need to "retrain" yourself how to breath.  My residents laughed at me at first when I told them they were going to have to learn how to breathe but now those that participate understand what I am talking about.

Gentle exercises are great stress reducers.  They take your mind off whatever is bothering you, even for a short while, and let your body relax while still helping to strengthen your muscles and improving health.

It takes time but I can testify that after a while you'll see the benefits.

Just breathe deep and relax.

good idea. The local Y has ai chi exercises in a warm water pool. I think I could hack that.

In China, I would often on an early morning walk see people doing some sort of slow motion exercise. It looks easy, but I soon learned it is quite challenging to get the requisite smoothness and continuity.

Absolutely - my parents started Tai chi last fall and I can't believe the difference it has made for them.  I think every body should give it 6 weeks just to see if it helps...

Sorry to hear about such a stressful time!  Carolla's comments about the shallow fast breathing of a stressed body were right on.  Change to some slow deep abdominal breathing every now and then, and maybe that will help.

Crossing my fingers for better horizons...

Well,mmy wife returned from a week wih her parents, took a look at me, and it wa straight to emergency. And they put me in cardio for a week. I'm just out.

Torns out it was atria fibrillation - unequal heart beat. So I'm now on a blood thinner - and I'm not the outsanding figure I was a few months ago, but I am, it seems, recovering.

The feeling of stress seems largely to have finished early in the treatment - but the doctor tossed in sleeping pills for those difficult nights.

So those poster who warned me were right. Watch out for shortness of breath.

I also intend to take the advice of those who said to sign on for Tai Chi to ease the stress.

graeme

p.s. superb staff at Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital in Moncton. Very helpful and friendly and attentive.

Very relieved to here this Graeme.  I'm glad you're sorted out, and look forward to hearing that you've tried the tai chi too.   Wives are handy to have around sometimes.

Not a time to climb mountains - me thinks. Glad you got to the bottom of it.

Stress is a killer.  People think I am being facetious when I say stop worrying but I'm not.  90% of what we worry about doesn't matter and the other 10% there is nothing much one can do about it so little point in worrying.

Learning how to relax takes time and practice.  Almost all of us have taken a lifetime learning how to fret, fortunately it doesn't need to take that much time to learn to let go.

Don't worry, be happy - is the cheapest pill on the market.  Take as many as you want, there are no side effects.

LB

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.     Lily Tomlin

Interestingly, the feeling of stress has almost completely disappeared. it disappeared almost as soon as I entered emergency, and hasn't returned. But i certainly plan to take a look at Tai Chi exercises.

Hi graeme - good to hear your wife is observant & assertive!   Interesting, isn't it, how it sometimes takes somebody looking at us from the outside to recognize that things are seriously amiss.   I hope your doctor will also take note of the missed diagnosis, just for future reference.  It worries me (sorry LB - I did read your words about worry ;-0)  that sometimes medical professionals do dismiss things as stress without fully investigating.

By all means, stay on those blood thinners, and ensure your levels are being carefully monitored - are you going for regular visits to the lab now?   A-fib, when untreated, is a big contributor to development of dementia ... goodness knows we need you & your sharp brain around here in the cafe!! 

BTW - tai chi is also a wonderful idea!  I did Taoist Tai Chi for about seven years and really enjoyed it.  Takes a while to catch on though - arms and legs are all going in different directions simultaneously, fluidly (!), through 108 moves!  It really is a moving meditation - your mind absolutely cannot think about anything else while you're doing it.  And once you're good at it - you DO work up a sweat!  Aerobics fans can't believe it, but it's true!!  

And ... there's good research now that relates practice of tai chi to reduced falls, improved strength & balance in older folks.  Hmmm ... maybe it's time for me to go back to classes ....

I used to watch older chinese doing Tai Chi in the streets in the early morning. It looks easy. but it really is not.

Am I being oversensitive? Less than a week before I went into hospital for a week of treatment for irregular heartbeat, I had received my regular half yearly checkup from my family doctor. I told her in some detail about my severe shortness in breath because I was getting alarmed about it.

She gave me my checkup. Found nothing. Clean bill of health.

Should I be a bit worried?

yeah, probably.  Make an appt and go back to her.  Ask how that could happen, and are there other things you can do above & beyond the basic checkup that might be of use in the future...

Most family docs are well trained in the basics - lots & lots of basics.  Sort of "Jack of all Trades, Master of None".  (Not to say they aren't great, but sometimes we need a different set of eyes looking at thigns.)  Might be a good time for her to brush up on cardiac care, methinks.

I think these days you very much have to be your own advocate in health care and trust your instincts.  You were concerned enough even after your "clean bill of health" to share your problem here.  I was torn as to how to respond because I didn't want to heighten your anxiety, however I was very concerned that you had a cardiovascular problem as shortness of breath upon exertion is a classic sign of this. 

If you are not well enough to be your own advocate then that is where family has to step in and that's really tricky because I find doctor's can give family members short shrift.

In your case I wouldn't be worried so much as aware and if you have a symptom that's bugging you and don't feel you're getting the right treatment act on your instincts and see someone else.  Sounds like you have a strong advocate in your partner too which is very good.

Hi graeme  - I like birthstone's suggestion - go chat with your doc about it.  Incidents such as this often can shake one's confidence in the physician involved, so talking with her might help you to either restore your confidence or decide to start seeing somebody else.  I agree with Meredith too - advocacy is important - but I imagine you'd be pretty good at that.

Here's a link that's quite good (IMO) re diagnosing of atrial fib - you've probably had all the tests now that you've been in hospital!  But it might give you info to help in reflecting on the situation with your doc - what she did or didn't do etc.  compared with usual care. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/af/af_diagnosis.html

The website is American - so their EKG is known as our ECG. 

thank you. based on experience, I shall now act on the advice of all of you a lot more promptly.

 I get short of breath when I am pregnant, almost before I even know I am.  Peed on a stick lately Graeme?  

Hi Graeme, I am glad to hear you have things sorted out. I agree with the others about talking with your doctor. She needs that information as part of your history. If something like this happens again, she will be aware to look deeper.

I also agree with the Tai Chi and Yoga recommendations. When we are stressed, we get too much cortisol and such. We need the relaxation response to help get our bodies back on track. Yoga and tai chi are just the ticket for that.

I have been through major stress in the last few months, well the months leading up to the first weekend in August when I was able to take off for a month. I was very tired and dragging my butt. I don't think I had shortness of breath.

trishcuit, you should be ashamed of talking dirty to a poor old man.

How are you doing these days graeme?

 Graeme, I wonder how old you are.  People are sometimes surprised at my age.  You can PM me and we will swap 'little truths"