Breathing Problems

Difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, breathlessness or dyspnea can have various causes. Episodes of shortness of breath can occur during high levels of activity, like exhaustive exertion, or as a result of environmental conditions such as high altitude or very warm or cold temperatures. Other than these extreme conditions, shortness of breath is commonly a sign of a medical problem.

Follow the links below to find information on breathing problems. For specific information about choking (or asphyxiation), altitude sickness or sleep apnoea, select the appropriate sub-topic below.

Updated January 2008

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Related HealthInsite Topics
Altitude Sickness
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about altitude sickness.
Choking
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about preventing asphyxiation and choking and what to do if it happens.
Sleep Apnoea
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about sleep apnoea (apnea).
Systematic Reviews of Treatments for Breathing Problems
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to systematic reviews of the evidence for the effectiveness of treatments for breathing problems.
16 Resources Found
Results 1 to 16 displayed.
Title:   Epiglottitis
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Epiglottitis is a rare but very serious disease that can cause children to die because their airway in the throat becomes blocked.
Date:   Nov 2008
Title:   Haemophilus influenza type B
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Before the introduction of Hib immunisation in 1993, the bacterial infection Haemophilus influenza type B was one of the most common causes of meningitis in young children (generally under the age of 2 years), and it was also the cause of epiglottitis which causes breathing problems.
Date:   Sep 2008
Title:   Habit cough in children
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   A habit cough is a cough that occurs in the absence of any underlying disease. It may follow a viral illness, but can go on for weeks, months or even, in extreme cases, years.
Date:   May 2008
Title:   Breathing
Publisher:   CareSearch
Description:   Breathing problems are a significant issue for many palliative care patients. These pages provide information and evidence regarding breathing problems for health professionals.
Date:   Apr 2008
Title:   Dearousal through hyperventilation control
Publisher:   World Health Organization
Description:   The first step in preventing and controlling hyperventilation is to recognise how and when hyperventilation occurs. Many people who panic show some signs of hyperventilation.
Date:   Jun 2007
Title:   Swallowed objects
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Young children and babies learn about their world by putting things in their mouths. It is easy for them to swallow things that may be harmful to them.
Date:   Apr 2007
Title:   Breathing problems and exercise
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   People with lung disease may avoid activities that make them feel breathless. However, regular physical activity can actually improve lung function and make breathing easier. Breathing exercises help too.
Date:   Nov 2006
Title:   Cough: treating dry cough
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   A dry cough can be treated using cough suppressants, decongestants, antihistamines, or with a combination of these products.
Date:   Jun 2006
Title:   Cough: treating productive or 'wet' cough
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   A productive or wet cough can be treated using expectorants, decongestants, mucolytics or steam inhalation.
Date:   Jun 2006
Title:   Corticosteroid therapy in respiratory disorders
Publisher:   The Australian Lung Foundation
Description:   Corticosteroids (sometimes called "cortisone") are effective anti-inflammatory drugs often used to help control inflammatory diseases, for example, in the bowel (colitis), in the joints (arthritis), in the skin(dermatitis) and in the lungs.
Date:   Aug 2005
Title:   Home oxygen treatment
Publisher:   The Australian Lung Foundation
Description:   Oxygen is essential for life. In normal healthy people, the blood oxygen level is usually above 85 units (mmHg). In people with lung problems, this level may fall to quite low levels. The use of added home oxygen has become routine for COPD patients with long-standing low blood oxygen levels.
Date:   Jul 2004
Title:   COPD - chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Publisher:   The Australian Lung Foundation
Description:   Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are common long-term lung diseases that cause shortness of breath. Each condition can occur on its own, but many people have a mixture of the two problems. In Australia, chronic bronchitis and emphysema usually occur in people who have smoked or continue to smoke cigarettes.
Date:   Jul 2003
Title:   Milk, mucus and cough
Publisher:   Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
Description:   Some people complain that milk makes their nose run, coats their throat and triggers coughing. Why is this so?
Date:   Mar 2002
Title:   Breath-holding attacks
Publisher:   Sydney Children's Hospital,The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Description:   Breath-holding attacks may happen after a child has a minor accident, has a fright or gets upset. The child will then cry and hold their breath.
Date:   Aug 2000
Title:   Recognising serious illness in young babies
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   The best indicators of serious illness in young babies can be remembered by using the A, B, C, Fluids in, Fluids out system.
Date:   Jan 2000
Title:   Dental implications: Basic tests of respiratory function
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   Respiratory function can be affected during dental treatment. Dentists need to be aware if their patients have any respiratory conditions especially as most treatment takes place in the airway. Medication used for treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disease should be considered when planning dental treatment.
Date:   Jan 2000
Results 1 to 16 displayed.