My husband started to have respiratory problems.Please help!!!!?

Question

A few months ago my husband started to have respiratory problems.He feels that he cannot get enough air into his lungs when he breathes and he also feels a nearly constant pressure in his chest.He went to see our GP who suspected he might have a lungs problem, so he sent him off for a few tests.The tests came out normal.It's like the doctors can't find anything wrong, but he still continues to feel the same.If you know anythig to help. we would be grateful.
Thank you

Answer 1

His problem could very well be caused by his heart, a scarred or leaky valve that is causing pressure in the lungs because the oxygenated blood coming to the heart can not get through easily. I am familiar with mitral valve stenosis (typically caused by rheumatic fever, a childhood disease often mis-diagnosed as flu.) His GP should already have pursued this possibility. But whether or not, your husband should see a cardiologist for a echo-cardiogram. There are two kinds: trans-thoratic where the sound device is moved across the chest and records pictures of the heart and valves, and measures blood flow. A trans-esophogeal echo does the same but in better detail from a device that is inserted into the esophogus for a closer look. Many things can cause breathing problems, and can start rather suddenly. Ask your GP for a referral to a specialist, and if treatment does not improve your husband's condition, do not hesitate to seek another opinion, and preferably at a hospital that has an extensive pulmonary program. In my case I wasted three years because of misdiagnosis, and I became much worse. Please don't delay!!!! Don't know where you live, but the best is Denver Jewish, others are NY Columbia Presbyterian, Yale University Medical Center, Mount Sinai in NYC. Be careful of the diagnosis of Sarcoidosis and the use of coticosteroids (Prednisone) treatment for inflammation. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I have an allergist in addition to the doctor I used to have who always turned out "normal" results. That allergist came about coz of the respiratory issues I kept having that eventually led to a serious health problem. She determined I have allergy induced asthma and that my airways close up around certain scents and things. Some people's lungs get more sensitive as they age, and they won't always show a problem under the stethoscope or xrays, but will if you look at their pallor, their nails, everything else. GP might unfortunately need a bad thing to happen to your husband before he will risk sending him to a specialist, coz most GPs are wary of sending someone without at least one symptom they themselves saw that cannot be accounted for in some other way they imagine, such as anxiety.

Answer 3

Yes, many of the above answers are possibilities - allergies, asthma, anxiety, etc. But there is also a good possibility that it is a hiatal hernia. This is when a part of the stomach protudes into the diaphragm. It can swell, meaning that it is difficult to take a breath and there is also constant pressure in the chest.

You'll need to go to the doctor still - ask for him to be tested for it. An interesting link is

May God pour out His peace and healing on you.

Answer 4

Have him go to a pulmonologist and get PFT's done, that's pulmonary function tests. The results will tell you and the doctors with numerical proof that he is or is not taking efficient breaths. Also, if it turns out to not be a respiratory issue, then have his heart checked, he could be using more oxygen than normal for his heart to work properly, so he would feel like he is not breathing enough because he actually isn't for his hearts workload. Good luck !!!

Answer 5

sounds like anxiety in which case his breathing will speed up causing too much oxygen to be present in the blood-causing metabolic alkalosis (not serious) this will lead to a constricted feeling in the chest and possible pins and needles or muscle tightening in one or both arms (thus increasing anxiety as people then think of heart attacks) nb someone having an anxiety attack does not necessarily have to be an anxious or neurotic person it can happen to any of us and we cant think why. if it is this your husband needs to learn to control it, a good exercise is to breath in a relaxed and slow manner in through the nose and out through the mouth or vice versa. if that fails you need to use the old faithful paperbag over the face- just cover mouth and nose and rebreathe expelled air which will raise the body's co2 level to normal and that will do the trick. it is possible that your hubby has a more serious respiratory condition but one would expect this to show up on tests. probably not serious but i wish you the very best of luck as these episodes can be very froghtening

Answer 6

I had the exactly same problem few couple years ago ,and the doctors told me the same thing (I knew It was allergies) they sent me to specialist and everything was normal anyway ,now the way I stave off allergies is by taking a spoon full of cod liver oil and when my nose is dry I use Olive oil in my nose I still come down with allergies ( having the same symptoms as you describe above) but they are not as severe

Answer 7

Not all doctors get it right the first time. it may be a possibility he is having some anxiety issues and is not aware of this, which could cause breathing difficulties. The brain controls the body. Some gentle breathing exerciser's may help, health eating and gentle but firm exercise will defiantly help. Perhaps see a homoeopath...

Answer 8

Other than get a second opinion,Borrow or buy a nebuliser its a simple machine that humidifies the air you breath in like through an oxygen mask,but it is a harmless way of easing his breathing and may also have a placebo effect,but as I said before get a second opinion.Good Luck.

Answer 9

does your hubby smoke? i was like that when i smoked but i carried on just put it down to the weather or i had been rushing a bit more than usual bet had to admit i had a breathing problem when i was admitted into hospital with a breathing problem took3 days to get me sorted and now its official i have COPD that's chronic obstruction other pulmonary disease
that means i have inhalers every day and if the weather is cold i have that tight feeling and i cannot fill my lungs its not nice but you can live an active life if you want to ...i do ,so keep going to your docs and they will get his medicine sorted and he will be OK good luck

Answer 10

sounds like hes got an allergy. ( i suffer with this) its asthma caused by allergens. the wheezing gasping tight . chest... and pounding headache... (not enough oxygen in the blood/brain)

in 40 years i havent found a successful drug/spray/compound which works.. and at the moment im gasping, night times are worse.. for me, its the autumn, im allergic to seeds and pollens, grasses, trees, and flowers... i have an injection of a drug acalled kennalog... it desentisizes me, stops the sneezing and wheezing, and the snot factory...

skin tests will confirm the allergens, but until then its a matter of elimination..something triggers the attack, anything new in the house? different cleaning chemicals/ detergents? any new flower arrangements...scents perfume or air fresheners..(plug in or spray) damp on the walls... etc etc... any of these things are allergens, its finding out whats causing it...

we have no carpets, no flowers, and use only specific chemicals, ie Soap, shampoo, and cleansers.

good luck...