1. Initiation of exercise
The blood gathers oxygen towards the lungs and transmits it to the muscles executed during the exercise. As the breathing rate increases to bring more air (oxygen) same as it goes to the level of activity being done for the lungs to pump more oxygen traveling to your blood and away to your muscles.
2. Moderate exercise
At moderate levels of exercise, your body requires more oxygen and releases more carbon dioxide. Since muscles exerted much effort, oxygen is in demand for the lungs to pump up oxygenated blood towards our muscles and blood.
3. Asthma attack
During an asthma attack, the airways are narrowed (narrow), so less air can flow in and out of the lungs. When things are working properly, the amount of air we breathe is about the same as the amount of air we exhale. However, during an asthma attack, the air becomes trapped in the lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult.
4. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
Volume respiration rises at high elevations, which can lead to breathing issues and instability. Our blood's oxygen content will decrease if the air pressure is low.
5. Pneumonia
Lung air sacs (alveoli) become inflamed and swell with fluid or pus as a result of the infection. As the patient breathes in, the oxygen may have difficulty entering the system as a result.
6. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
The phrenic nerve serves a significant role in respiration that gives the lungs capacity to inhale and exhale air and causes the diaphragm to contract and expand. Once the diaphragm is paralyzed due to nerve damage, the patient who has a weak diaphragm will experience difficulty in breathing.
7. Severe tuberculosis with resulting lung scar tissue
After treatment of tuberculosis, it causes scarring. Pulmonary fibrosis scars and thickens lung tissue that impacts the connecting tissue in the lung and the alveoli (air sacs inside the lungs). As it worsens, it causes shortness of breath.
8. Severe anemia
The patient needs iron to produce enough of a component in red blood cells that makes it possible for them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). Anemia adds to the burden of breathing when it affects patients with higher ventilatory needs.
9. Advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
The patient may be more susceptible to changes in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in their blood and/or lungs if they have COPD. Your body may respond by using quick breathing to obtain oxygen when your partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) is low.
10. Advanced Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the uterus expands and pushes up into the abdomen, putting a little pressure on the lungs and reducing the space for oxygen exchange. High levels of progesterone (a hormone that increases during pregnancy) also cause pregnant women to breathe faster.
References:
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Your lungs and exercise. (2016, March 1). European Respiratory Society. https://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/12/1/97
DEFINE_ME. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/cookieAbsent
San, T., Polat, S., Cingi, C., Eskiizmir, G., Oghan, F., & Cakir, B. (2013). Effects of high altitude on sleep and respiratory system and theirs adaptations. TheScientificWorldJournal, 2013, 241569. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/241569
Learn About Pneumonia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/learn-about-pneumonia
Phrenic Nerve: Anatomy & Function. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22270-phrenic-nerve
Pulmonary Fibrosis: What is It, Causes, Symptoms, Testing & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10959-pulmonary-fibrosis
Iron deficiency anemia - Symptoms and causes. (2022, January 4). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034
COPD-Associated Tachypnea. (2020, December 7). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/tachypnea-function-and-treatment-914914
https://www.health.harvard.edu/decision_guide/shortness-of-breath-in-pregnant