Upper Respiratory Infections & Shortness Of Breath

A doctor may listen to your chest to diagnose an upper respiratory infection.

An upper respiratory infection is caused by one of more than 200 viruses that affect the head and chest. It commonly will have a significant effect on a person's middle ear, windpipe and airways, according to the Dartmouth College Health Services. URIs accompanied with shortness of breath may be a sign of a more serious condition and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Cause

The UW-Seattle Hall Health Primary Care Center states that the main cause of shortness of breath related to an URI is inflammation and excessive mucus in the lungs. When the lungs become inflamed, they swell, restricting a person's ability to breathe normally or deeply. The excessive mucus may cause a person to develop a wheezing sound with a cough.

Signs and Symptoms

The common signs and symptoms of a URI are coughing; sore throat; fever; headache; sinus infection; such nasal issues as runny nose, sinus pressure and congestion; and muscle aches, according to the Hall Health Primary Care Center.

A URI accompanied by shortness of breath can signal inflamed lungs, bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma induced by the infection. A person with a URI will experience symptoms for 10 to 14 days, so a lingering cough is a sign of a more serious problem.

Treatment

There is no cure for a URI. A viral infection has to be fought by the body's natural defenses. However, URI symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and decongestants. The most common OTC drugs used to help open up the lungs and provide breathing relief are expectorants and cough suppressants.

Treatment for inflamed lungs is rest and drinking fluids. Bronchitis is treated with antibiotics and an expectorant to kill the bacterial infection and loosen any excessive phlegm. Pneumonia is treated with rest and sometimes antibiotics. In serious cases, sufferers may be hospitalized. Asthma is treated with inhalers, antihistamines and sometimes prednisone.

Prevention

To prevent a URI, you should sleep at least eight hours a night, drink a minimum of six 8-ounce glasses of water daily and eat a balanced diet. Use saline washes at the first sign of nasal congestion because they may help remove excessive mucus dripping into the lungs.

In addition, you should stay away from people who appear to be sick and wash your hands with hot, soapy water as often as possible.

Considerations

Shortness of breath is a serious condition. You should seek medical attention if shortness of breath is accompanied by fainting spells, loss of memory and lack of oxygen throughout the body. Shortness of breath with chest pain can be the result of a severe allergic reaction and should be evaluated by a doctor.

In addition, if your URI is accompanied with shortness of breath, you should talk to your doctor before self-treating with OTC medications. If OTC drugs do not improve the ability to breath normally, talk with a doctor.

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