The doctor told about the danger of ignoring shortness of breath

Shortness of breath can be a sign of serious illnesses, such as a heart attack or stroke. Natalia Zolotareva, cardiologist at SM Clinic, told about this on Friday, January 24.

She stated that shortness of breath is often associated with heart problems, as inefficient heart function leads to a lack of oxygen in the organs, causing a feeling of suffocation. Shortness of breath may indicate heart failure, arrhythmia, or coronary artery disease that requires treatment to prevent a heart attack or stroke.

"Another common cause of shortness of breath is the pathology of the respiratory system. The lungs are responsible for oxygenating the blood. When they are affected or inflamed, the body experiences oxygen deficiency. Chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia are often accompanied by shortness of breath. Without adequate therapy, these conditions can progress and worsen overall well—being," she said.https://www.gazeta.ru/social/news/2025/01/24/24908042.shtml " target="_blank">"The newspaper.Ru».

The doctor noted that shortness of breath can also be caused by anemia, in which there are not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen, which leads to oxygen starvation of tissues and difficulty breathing. Anemia can be caused by a deficiency of iron or vitamins, and ignoring it leads to a weakening of the body.

Shortness of breath can also occur due to anxiety disorders and panic attacks, accompanied by tachycardia and fear, the doctor noted, emphasizing that a psychoemotional state also affects physical health.

The cardiologist concluded that self-treatment of shortness of breath can be dangerous, as the causes can be serious. She stressed that shortness of breath is an important signal from the body that requires medical attention to maintain health.

Earlier, on November 24, 2024, Sergey Provatorov, chief researcher at the Federal State Budgetary Institution "NMITS of Cardiology named after Academician E.I. Chazov" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, chief cardiologist of the Central Federal District, told Izvestia that myocardial infarction and stroke are the leading causes of death among adults people all over the world. At the same time, a significant part of strokes is associated with atherosclerotic damage to the arteries of the brain, which provoke atherosclerotic plaques — they form in blood vessels and interfere with the normal blood supply to organs.