Labored Breathing

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Diagnosis

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re having difficulty breathing and it’s not related to exercise, seek immediate medical help.

Labored breathing is a general term used to describe when breathing is difficult. The term can be applied to any number of conditions in which breathing is physically impaired. It can also be used if the underlying cause is psychological.

Unlikeshortness of breathandwheezing, labored breathing is not a medical term and is not listed as a symptom in theInternational Classification of Diseases(ICD). Rather, it is a term that most people understand to mean “hard to breathe.”

This article looks at different symptoms that may be considered labored breathing and the medical conditions that may cause it. It also explains how labored breathing may be diagnosed and treated.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Symptoms of Labored Breathing

The term “labored breathing” may be applied to any number of symptoms in which your breathing is restricted, obstructed, or impaired. These include:

Other signs of labored breathing include grunting, the flaring of nostrils,intercostal retractions(when the skin pulls in and out between the ribs as you breathe), andcyanosis(the bluish discoloration of the skin due to the lack of oxygen).

Symptoms of Serious Breathing Problems in Children

Causes of Labored Breathing

Labored breathing can occur for any number of reasons, from allergic reactions likeanaphylaxisto anxiety disorders likepost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Labored breathing may also be the result of arestrictive lung disease(in which you have problems expanding the lungs) or anobstructive lung disease(in which you have problems emptying the lungs).

The causes of labored breathing can be broadly classified as being eitheracute(rapidly developing and often severe) orchronic(persistent and progressive).

Acute CausesAnaphylaxisAsbestosisChoking or asphyxiationChest or neck injuryHigh altitudesPanic attacksPericardial effusionPleural effusionPneumoniaPneumothoraxPulmonary thrombosisWhooping coughChronic CausesAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)AsthmaCongestive heart failureChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Coronary artery diseaseCystic fibrosisLung cancerPulmonary edemaPulmonary sarcoidosisTuberculosis

Acute CausesAnaphylaxisAsbestosisChoking or asphyxiationChest or neck injuryHigh altitudesPanic attacksPericardial effusionPleural effusionPneumoniaPneumothoraxPulmonary thrombosisWhooping cough

Anaphylaxis

Asbestosis

Choking or asphyxiation

Chest or neck injury

High altitudes

Panic attacks

Pericardial effusion

Pleural effusion

Pneumonia

Pneumothorax

Pulmonary thrombosis

Whooping cough

Chronic CausesAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)AsthmaCongestive heart failureChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Coronary artery diseaseCystic fibrosisLung cancerPulmonary edemaPulmonary sarcoidosisTuberculosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Asthma

Congestive heart failure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Coronary artery disease

Cystic fibrosis

Lung cancer

Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary sarcoidosis

Tuberculosis

These are just a few of the many conditions that can cause labored breathing. Even things like extreme temperature changes, overexertion, poor air quality, and obesity can lead to labored breathing.

What Is Respiratory Failure?

How to Treat Labored Breathing

The treatment of labored breathing can vary based on the underlying cause. If symptoms are severe, you may receive treatment even if the underlying cause is not yet known.

Primary treatments for labored breathing include:

These are just a few examples of treatments for labored breathing. Due to the wide range of conditions that can cause labored breathing, treatment will differ for each individual.

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Labored Breathing?

If you have labored breathing, a healthcare provider will order tests and procedures to narrow down the possible causes. The primary tools for the evaluation include:

These initial findings can point your healthcare provider in the direction of the possible causes. They can then decide if additional tests and procedures are needed.

For example, if there is an abnormal ECG, anechocardiogram(which images the heart with reflected sound waves) andcardiac stress test(which evaluates your heart during physical activity) may also be ordered.

Call 911 for emergency assistance if you experience labored breathing unrelated to exercise that does not subside within a few minutes.

Other signs of a medical emergency include:

First Aid Tips for Shortness of Breath

Summary

Labored breathing is a non-medical term used to describe when breathing is difficult or impaired. It may be due to a physical condition like COPD that directly interferes with respiration. Or it could be a psychological one like a panic attack that does the same.

Labored breathing has many different causes. It can take time and extensive testing before the condition is diagnosed and the appropriate treatment is delivered.

A Word From Verywell

Labored breathing is rarely considered “normal.” While it’s common to be short of breath after exercise, labored breathing often refers to a problem that is prolonged and abnormal.

Reducedexercise tolerance(ability to withstand exercise) is a red flag for many chronic health conditions. These can range from COPD to heart failure.

Even if you’re breathing normally with everyday activities, let your healthcare provider know if you’re experiencing labored breathing earlier than usual in your workouts.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are many different terms, each of which describes a specific characteristic of a breathing problem. This includes dyspnea (shortness of breath), tachypnea (rapid, shallow breathing), hyperpnea (rapid, deep breathing), and apnea (abnormal gaps in breathing).Accessory muscles are muscles outside of the diaphragm or intercostal muscles that assist with breathing when the breathing is labored or impaired.These include muscles called thescalene muscles,sternocleidomastoid,pectoralis major,pectoralis minor, andtrapezius, among others.Breathing difficulty is almost always considered a medical emergency. An exception is feeling winded from strenuous exercise.But, beyond that, labored breathing is never considered “normal.“Even if it resolves, see a healthcare provider and have it checked out, especially if it occurred for no known reason.

There are many different terms, each of which describes a specific characteristic of a breathing problem. This includes dyspnea (shortness of breath), tachypnea (rapid, shallow breathing), hyperpnea (rapid, deep breathing), and apnea (abnormal gaps in breathing).

Accessory muscles are muscles outside of the diaphragm or intercostal muscles that assist with breathing when the breathing is labored or impaired.These include muscles called thescalene muscles,sternocleidomastoid,pectoralis major,pectoralis minor, andtrapezius, among others.

Accessory muscles are muscles outside of the diaphragm or intercostal muscles that assist with breathing when the breathing is labored or impaired.

These include muscles called thescalene muscles,sternocleidomastoid,pectoralis major,pectoralis minor, andtrapezius, among others.

Breathing difficulty is almost always considered a medical emergency. An exception is feeling winded from strenuous exercise.But, beyond that, labored breathing is never considered “normal.“Even if it resolves, see a healthcare provider and have it checked out, especially if it occurred for no known reason.

Breathing difficulty is almost always considered a medical emergency. An exception is feeling winded from strenuous exercise.But, beyond that, labored breathing is never considered “normal.”

Even if it resolves, see a healthcare provider and have it checked out, especially if it occurred for no known reason.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tulaimat A, Trick W.DiapHRaGM: A mnemonic to describe the work of breathing in patients with respiratory failure.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0179641. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179641Berliner D, Schneider N, Welte T, Bauersachs J.The differential diagnosis of dyspnea.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016 Dec;113(49):834–45. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0834Saguil A, Fargo M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730-738.Johnson JD, Theurer WM.A stepwise approach to the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):359-66.Ferry OR, Huang YC, Masel PJ, et al.Diagnostic approach to chronic dyspnoea in adults.J Thorac Dis.2019 Oct;11(Suppl 17):S2117–28. doi:10.21037/jtd.2019.10.53MedlinePlus.Breathing difficulties - first aid.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tulaimat A, Trick W.DiapHRaGM: A mnemonic to describe the work of breathing in patients with respiratory failure.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0179641. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179641Berliner D, Schneider N, Welte T, Bauersachs J.The differential diagnosis of dyspnea.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016 Dec;113(49):834–45. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0834Saguil A, Fargo M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730-738.Johnson JD, Theurer WM.A stepwise approach to the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):359-66.Ferry OR, Huang YC, Masel PJ, et al.Diagnostic approach to chronic dyspnoea in adults.J Thorac Dis.2019 Oct;11(Suppl 17):S2117–28. doi:10.21037/jtd.2019.10.53MedlinePlus.Breathing difficulties - first aid.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Tulaimat A, Trick W.DiapHRaGM: A mnemonic to describe the work of breathing in patients with respiratory failure.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0179641. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179641Berliner D, Schneider N, Welte T, Bauersachs J.The differential diagnosis of dyspnea.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016 Dec;113(49):834–45. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0834Saguil A, Fargo M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730-738.Johnson JD, Theurer WM.A stepwise approach to the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):359-66.Ferry OR, Huang YC, Masel PJ, et al.Diagnostic approach to chronic dyspnoea in adults.J Thorac Dis.2019 Oct;11(Suppl 17):S2117–28. doi:10.21037/jtd.2019.10.53MedlinePlus.Breathing difficulties - first aid.

Tulaimat A, Trick W.DiapHRaGM: A mnemonic to describe the work of breathing in patients with respiratory failure.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0179641. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179641

Berliner D, Schneider N, Welte T, Bauersachs J.The differential diagnosis of dyspnea.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016 Dec;113(49):834–45. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0834

Saguil A, Fargo M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730-738.

Johnson JD, Theurer WM.A stepwise approach to the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(5):359-66.

Ferry OR, Huang YC, Masel PJ, et al.Diagnostic approach to chronic dyspnoea in adults.J Thorac Dis.2019 Oct;11(Suppl 17):S2117–28. doi:10.21037/jtd.2019.10.53

MedlinePlus.Breathing difficulties - first aid.

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