Breathing difficulty may involve:
-- Uncomfortable breathing
-- Feeling like you are not getting enough air

Considerations
There is no standard definition for difficulty breathing. Some people feel breathless with only mild exercise (for example, climbing stairs), even though they do not have a medical condition. Others may have advanced lung disease but may never feel short of breath. Wheezing is one form of breathing difficulty in which you make a high-pitched sound when you breathe out.

Causes
Shortness of breath has many different causes. For example, heart disease can cause breathlessness if your heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. If your brain, muscles, or other body organs do not get enough oxygen, a sense of breathlessness may occur. Breathing difficulty may also be due to problems with the lungs, airways, or other health problems.

Problems with the lungs:
-- Blood clot in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
-- Bronchiolitis
-- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema
-- Other lung disease
-- Pneumonia
-- Pulmonary hypertension

Home Care
Sometimes, mild breathing difficulty may be normal and is not a cause for concern. A very stuffy nose is one example. Strenuous exercise, especially when you do not exercise often, is another example. If breathing difficulty is new or is getting worse, it may be due to a serious problem. Though many causes are not dangerous and are easily treated, call your health care provider for any breathing difficulty. If you are being treated for a long-term problem with your lungs or heart, follow your provider's directions to help with that problem.