Shortness of breath may be related to your lungs, your heart, your blood pressure, or all the above. David Bolon, MD, of Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown Manhattan can determine if a cardiac condition is making it hard to catch your breath and develop a treatment strategy that addresses your symptoms as well as the cause. Schedule an evaluation today by calling his New York City office or request an appointment online.
Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, is often a frightening sensation that may make you feel like you’re suffocating.
Various issues can cause shortness of breath, including:
Shortness of breath is also a common symptom of coronary artery disease and other potentially severe cardiac conditions requiring specialty care.
Cardiac conditions that may trigger shortness of breath include:
While heart attack is probably the most familiar, any of these heart conditions are potentially fatal and require a cardiologist’s intervention.
Your evaluation at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular starts with a physical exam and a detailed discussion of your symptoms. Before you arrive for an appointment, try jotting down all the symptoms you’re experiencing, even if you’re not sure they’re related to shortness of breath.
Heart failure symptoms, for instance, tend to build gradually over weeks to months and may eventually cause extreme shortness of breath with even mild physical activity or at rest. Lying flat is often uncomfortable, and you may find yourself waking suddenly in the night due to air hunger.
Other symptoms common to heart failure include swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet that don’t resolve with elevation. You may also experience fatigue, unexplained weight gain due to fluid buildup, and the sensation that your heart is racing.
These are all classic symptoms of heart failure that can help guide your specialist’s recommendations about further evaluation.
Generally, however, your Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular specialist schedules a series of diagnostic studies to identify the cause of your shortness of breath. These may include lab tests, an in-office EKG, echocardiogram, or other imaging studies.
You may also benefit from a cardiac stress test to gauge how your heart responds to the increased demands of physical exertion.
Schedule a visit at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular today for an evaluation of shortness of breath. Call the office or request an appointment online.