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Shortness Of Breath And Dizziness
Have you ever experienced the shortness of breath and dizziness? Most of the people find it hard to know the right cause for them. If you are looking for why these symptoms occur, this article is the right one for you. So, stay attentive and read the article thoroughly to learn more about these things.
Introduction To Shortness Of Breath
You might sometimes feel unable to breathe, which is nothing but shortness of breath (Dyspnea). There can be many reasons for the shortness of breath.
Our heart and lungs are responsible for the transportation of oxygen to the tissues. When there is a struggle in any of these two parts we will witness the shortness of breath.
Shortness of Breath is of two types
- Acute
- Chronic
Acute Shortness Of Breath is the type where the shortness of breath comes suddenly. But it doesn’t last more than a few days.
Chronic Shortness Of Breath is where the shortness lasts for a long time.
Introduction To Dizziness
Dizziness is a common feeling like the spinning of the room, head, and self unbalance. This is due to the effect on the eyes and ears. Dizziness is actually a mix of multiple disorders.
Causes And Treatment For Shortness Of Breath And Dizziness
There are various causes for the particular symptom, either shortness of breath or dizziness. But these are the causes of both shortness of breath and dizziness. However, most of these symptoms come under heart problems.
1. Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Artery Disease is the primary cause of shortness of breath as well as dizziness. It is a disease where arteries start becoming narrower or even get blocked due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the development of plaques (cholesterol and fatty deposits) on the inner walls of arteries.
As a result of plaque formation, there will be restricted blood flow to the heart muscle. It even hardens our artery or can cause a weird artery tone or function.
Thus, you might get symptoms such as shortness of breath and dizziness. You would also get symptoms like palpitations, faster heartbeat, sweating, etc.
Treatment For Coronary Artery Disease
If you get these symptoms, please don’t neglect them. And if you smoke, you should stop smoking immediately. And also stop eating high cholesterol and fat building foods. I strictly believe prevention is better than cure.
These are treatments in general for coronary artery disease.
An interventional procedure is a primary treatment considering for this disease. It comes under nonsurgical because it is done through the passing of a thin tube. In the case of balloon angioplasty or stent placement, the interventional procedure is advisable.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is where the blocked arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft. Vessel graft helps in restoring normal blood flow to the heart. Actually these grafts are taken from the patient’s chest, arm or leg.
Enhanced External Counter-pulsation (EECP) is a less traditional treatment. Doctors mostly suggest it in these days. EECP is a process, where it stimulates the formation or opening of small branches of collaterals (blood vessels). As a result to create natural bypass around the blocked or narrowed arteries.
2. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is heart disease. It is the change in the rhythm or rate of your heartbeat. In this case, your heart might beat either too fast or too slow or in an irregular pattern.
Arrhythmia is of two types. Bradycardia (faster heartbeat) and Tachycardia (slow heartbeat).
Arrhythmia also causes shortness of breath and dizziness. It also includes chest pain and sweating.
Treatment For Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is primarily treated by using medications. Anti arrhythmic drugs, heart rate control drugs, anticoagulant drugs are advisable.
The Electrical Cardioversion is a kind of treatment when the patient’s body doesn’t respond to Arrhythmia with drugs. The process is like, after giving anesthesia to the patient, the doctor passes electric impulses through the chest wall that will refresh the heart and allowing the rhythm to restart.
Catheter Ablation is where the catheter delivers high-frequency electric energy to the small tissue area inside of the heart for causing abnormal heart rhythm. Therefore, the energy cuts the pathway of abnormal rhythm an helps in control of Arrhythmia.
Pulmonary Vein Isolation is a type of ablation where it targets the areas that might cause atrial fibrillation. It aims to create rings of scar that isolate the foci, which can cause atrial fibrillation.
3. Anemia
Anemia is a disease where the count of red blood cells is low. Hemoglobin is the main protein in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for delivering oxygen throughout the body. As a result of anemia, hemoglobin levels will also go down. Hence, the person with anemia will become weak and experience shortness of breath and dizziness.
Treatment For Anemia
Anemia is of different types and there are different treatments for the different types. However, the treatment is mostly through diet and medications. Let’s enlist them.
Vitamin Deficiency Anemia requires a proper diet and an increase in supplements of food that provide a particular vitamin. For example, vitamin C deficiency requires more citrus foods and vitamin K requires meat and milk.
Iron Deficiency Anemia involves the lack of iron in our body results in less production of red blood cells. Thus there will be a need in the intake of iron supplements and changes in your diet. It’s advisable to eat the items which are rich in iron like beans, tofu, etc..
Hemolytic Anemia requires medications, drugs, for your immune system that destructing your RBC. It cannot be controlled over the food diet.
Sickle Cell Anemia treatment requires pain killers, intravenous fluids and oxygen to reduce pain and prevent other complex issues.
Thalassemia does not require treatment mostly. Folic acid supplements, blood changes, medications, bone marrow cell transplantation are required for severe thalassemia.
4. Pericarditis
The pericardium is the walled sac that contains heart in it. Pericarditis is the swelling of the pericardium. It is generally small and develops suddenly but may last up to several months.
It will automatically go after three months, but attacks may come sometime and stay for years. Pericarditis affects the membrane layer outside the heart and makes it red and swollen.
Pericarditis is responsible for chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness. It can also cause fever, increased heart rate.
To confirm that it is a pericarditis, doctors may perform several tests. They are
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram,
- Computerized tomography (CT Scan),
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Treatment For Pericarditis
Painkillers are the primary treatment for pericarditis. It responds well to these painkillers. They also give a great reduction to the swelling.
Colchicine is a drug, reduces any swelling inside the body. This Drug reduces the recurring of pericarditis and also the syptoms of the disease.
Corticosteroids are the steroids used as alternatives when the painkillers and Colchicine drugs do not works as expected.
Pericardiocentesis is the hospital procedure. In this scenario, doctor uses a needle and catheter (tube) to remove the excess fluid from the pericardium.
Pericardiectomy is the rare case and it is a surgery. In the case of constrictive pericarditis, the entire pericardium will be removed.
5. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
In Cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle gets thickened. So, the weighted muscle cannot pump the blood efficiently to the whole body. It also affects the electrical activity of the heart, leading to the abnormal rhythm of heartbeat or even result in death.
It frequently affects the major structures of the heart like ventricles, myocardium, ventricular septum and mitral valve. Moreover, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease. 2 out 1000 can inherit this disease. Mostly, young people aged between 16 and 65.
The symptoms of this disease are Palpitations, Angina (chest pain), Shortness of Breath and Dizziness.
Treatment For Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Firstly, Cardiomyopathy is not a treatable disease. The treatment can maximum help up to relieve symptoms and avoiding sudden death.
Medications relieve the symptoms successfully and let life become normal. Moreover, drugs used in this medication helps to reduce the strength of the contractions of the heart muscle or slow down the heart rate.
Septal myectomy is the surgery for removing the section of the heart muscle. Experts consider this treatment as the most effective for symptoms of heterotrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Moreover, it helps people with non-recurring symptoms and leading to a normal life.
Septal ablation is a catheterization procedure. A catheter is sent to perform angiography to check the blood vessels and small arteries carrying blood to the large (overgrown) muscle. After the identification of blood vessels, alcohol is injected into the catheter to destroy the tissues of the populated area. So, gradually the tissues shrink and allow the blood flow to the heart.
6. Heart Valve Disease
Firstly, our heart has four valves. In the heart valve disease, one or more of the four valves does not work properly. These four heart valves are responsible for the blood flow in the right direction. However, the proper flow of the blood from the heart to the entire body will disturb if there is no proper functioning in any of the valves.
Also, heart valve disease has symptoms like abdominal swelling, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, irregular heart beat, shortness of breath and dizziness.
The tests that are performed for Pericarditis are same for the heart valve disease. They are:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram,
- Computerized tomography (CT Scan),
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Treatment For Heart Valve Disease
Heart Valve Repair is the primary treatment for heart valve disease. Doctors recommend this valve repair whenever possible instead of replacement. Firstly, the surgeon may separate your valve cusps (flaps or leaflets) that are not working, and then replace the cords that support your valves. Later, the removal of excess valve tissues to make sure that the leaflets will close tight or fill holes in the pipe.
Heart Valve Replacement is the alternative for repair. When the valve can’t be repaired, surgeons have no other option except replacement. Surgeons remove the damaged valve and replace it with a mechanical valve or biological valve (the vale which is made of cow, pig or human heart tissue).
However, biological valves dissolve after a few months, and they need replacement frequently. The mechanical valve holders also have their disadvantages. Moreover, they regularly need to take blood-thinning medications for the whole life to prevent clotting of blood.
7. Heart Failure
Firstly, heart failure doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working. The actual meaning of heart failure is that your heart cannot pump the blood as capable as it could. It occurs mostly to the old age people. One can lead a happy life though they are suffering with heart failure if they take care and maintain balance in life.
The causes I have discussed above are the causes of heart failure except for Anemia. Heart attack is the primary cause for heart failure in most cases.
The symptoms of heart failure are fatigue (feeling tired), frequent urination, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath and dizziness.
Treatment For Heart Failure
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are drugs that help people who are suffering from systolic heart failure. Moreover, they will increase the life span of the person. They widen the blood vessels to control blood pressure, improve blood flow, and unweight the heart.
Beta Blockers are the type of drugs that they not only slower your heart rate and reduce blood pressure but also limits the damage of heart if you have systolic heart failure.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers are the alternatives for ACE inhibitors. The ACE inhibitors are a bit strong doses and some people can’t bear them. Hence, Angiotensin II receptor blockers are the best alternative drugs for heart failure.
Diuretics are also known as water pills. These pills helps you in urinating frequently and encourage fluid collection in our body. However, diuretics have the potential to absorb potassium and magnesium from our body. Take supplements for those minerals as prescribed by your doctor.
Aldosterone antagonists are drugs that help people with severe systolic heart failures. These drugs are rich potassium diuretics. However, consult your doctor before using this drug as they can have the chance to increase potassium in your blood up to extreme levels.
Conclusion – Stay Attentive In Case Of Shortness of Breath and Dizziness
Well, these are the causes and treatments for shortness of breath and dizziness. There may be other causes but these are the most primary causes for these symptoms. I suggest you stay attentive and follow what your doctor said to get out of these diseases.
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So, please don’t neglect these common symptoms as they result in dreadful disease. As soon as you got these symptoms, immediately move for a check-up and save your lives from them. And please consult your doctor for any small issue and note the above-provided information is for knowledge purpose.
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I Hope you like this valuable article and please share this with your friends and family or any others who are facing these symptoms such as shortness of breath and dizziness.
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