How to know if breathing difficulty means having heart problem or respiratory problem?

Question

If the ECG report tells the heart beat is a bit slow, does it mean I have a weak heart and tend to have a heart attack? The cardiologist said there's nothing wrong. 3 days ago, nearly midnight, after I went to sleep, suddenly I can't breath at all where I've to jump up from the bed to try to breath hard for air.

Answer 1

EKG-shows that a heart rate is slow, does not necessarily mean damage to your heart.
A slow pulse rate in athletes usually means a strong heart, but in non-athletes, it can mean heart damage.

Athletes often have pulse rates below 60 because their hearts are strong enough to pump large amounts of blood with each beat and therefore don't have to beat as often.


But non-athletes with slow heart rates often have damage to their electric conduction system. An electric impulse starts in the upper part of the heart and travels along nerves down the heart, causing the heart to contract and squeeze blood from its chambers to your body. If the nerves in the heart are damaged, electric impulses can be blocked and the heart can miss beats. This is called heart block and is a sign of heart damage. If you are an athlete with a slow heart rate, you are probably healthy, but if you do not exercise and have a pulse rate below 60, check with your doctor.

But being a respiratory therapist, I would have to say this...if the doctor says that there is nothing wrong with your heart then there is a good chance there probably is nothing wrong. If you doubt the cardiologist opinion go for a second one, it won't hurt. If you have not had respiratory problems in the past before the other night, you are probably are not having respiratory problems. Although without seeing a pulmonologist and a proper respiratory work-up I cannot say that for sure. So, my advice would be see a pulmonologist, if nothing comes up and you are still unsure go for a second opinion. But, it is possible that what you experienced the other night was an anxiety attack for whatever reason. Maybe because you were scared by your heart rate being a bit slow.

Symptoms of an anxiety attack include...

racing heartbeat
difficulty breathing, feeling as though you 'can't get enough air'
terror that is almost paralyzing
dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
trembling, sweating, shaking
choking, chest pains
hot flashes, or sudden chills
tingling in fingers or toes ('pins and needles')
fear that you're going to go crazy or are about to die

You probably recognize these as the symptoms of your flight or fight mechanism, that is because they are.

Like I said I can't say for sure what is happening with you, not being able to evaluate you, but hopefully this information you find helpful. But just in case it is something more than anxiety I do recommend you go for a pulmonary evaluation.

Kimberly, Registered Respiratory Therapist

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Most people with respiratory problems - individuals with emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma tend to have worsening symptoms when lying down. Symptoms improve when sleeping sitting up or with head elevated. Respiratory problems can be worse if you are a long time smoker. If you are overweight and snore, then you could also have sleep apnea problems. If you are having respiratory or sleep apnea problems, then these can cause you to feel wiped out all day long. You should be evaluated by a pulmonologist to determine exactly what the problem is. There are very good treatments for these conditions.

Answer 4

If you have seen a cardiologist and they can't find anything wrong with your heart, then consider seing a pulmonologist to check your respiratory function. You may have asthma or some other respiratory issue. Also, consider that you may be having acid reflux. This can come up into your throat when you sleep and if you are aspirating some of the acid, it can irritate your airway. You won't always feel heartburn with reflux, so it's worth considering this may be a cause. Reflux can irritate throat tissue as well, leaving you with a "lump" sensation in your throat.

Answer 5

depends on your past medical history. if they say that your heart beat is slow and the cardiologist doesn't find any abnormalities, it could mean that it's just a little slower than normal, but normal rhythm. to see if a person is having a heart problem, we usually look at the rhythm, we also look at the rate -- but rhythms are more accurate and easy to pinpoint where specifically the problem lies. but since the ecg does not indicate any abnormalities, then probably you're ok.

as for respiratory problems, you have to review what's been going on in your body. have you been diagnosed with any lung problems since you were a child? also it's hard to say what's really going on because we don't know your age, your lifestyle (if you were a smoker, or you lived a healthier lifestyle), if you have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses in the past, etc.

Answer 6

Normal heart rate is 60-80 beats per minute, now if it's a little slower it usually isn't a problem, as a matter of fact it's a good thing. Your heart has less stress!! The can't breath, I think was a little bit of anxiety. If you really couldn't breath, trust me you wouldn't be jumpin' out of bed!! Try to relax and don't worry so much!!

Answer 7

Broadly speaking- Breathing problems are either cardiac or respiratory.
ECG does not exclude cardiac causes.
Shortness of breath when flat usually indicates cardiac rather than respiratory causes.
To differentiate between the two we need more information regarding your symptoms and further exams and tests.

Answer 8

I can relate with the having to yawn a bunch to get your breath, that happens to me a lot and is very annoying. But, it doen't happen on a DAILY basis. I'm sorry, I can't relate to the cramping part though. Get a check up.

Answer 9

It's really bad

Answer 10

It could be sleep apnea. You should talk to your doctor about the possibility. sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing during sleep and can cause a weak and tired heart.