What Are the Different Types of Breathing Problems?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on July 24, 2025
8 min read

Breathing problems come in several different forms. You may have:

  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea), making it feel like you can’t get enough air when you breathe
  • Wheezing, during which you hear a whistling sound when you take a breath
  • Rapid breathing (tachypnea), in which you breathe fast and shallow but aren’t exercising
  • Slow breathing (bradypnea), in which your body isn’t getting enough oxygen, such as due to sleep apnea (temporary pauses in breathing during sleep)

Note: If you’ve been having trouble breathing, let your doctor know. If you have trouble breathing along with symptoms of confusion or pain in your chest, jaw, or down your arm, call 911.

Types of breathing problems vary, and so do their causes.

 

Breathing problems can be caused by conditions affecting the sinuses, heart, lungs, and more:

Allergies. Allergens, such as pollen, enter your nose and sinuses. If you have an allergic reaction, your nasal passages may become inflamed. The reaction may make you cough, wheeze, and have shortness of breath or shallow breathing. 

Asthma. Allergies are a common trigger for asthma. If allergies inflame your nasal passages and you have asthma, the inflammation may trigger an asthma attack.

Heart conditions. Heart problems that affect your breathing include:

  • Cardiomyopathy makes it hard for your heart muscle to pump blood. Your organs and tissues don’t get enough oxygen, which can cause trouble breathing, dizziness, coughing while lying down, or chest pain.
  • Heart failure can make you feel breathless as your heart weakens.
  • Tachycardia makes your heart beat too fast (more than 100 beats per minute) and causes shortness of breath.

Infections. The common cold, COVID-19, or sinus infections (sinusitis) can make it difficult to breathe for a week or two. When viruses enter your nose, the tissues lining your sinuses may swell. Once the inflammation eases and your sinuses begin to drain, breathing starts to return to normal. Other types of lung infection that may cause breathing problems include pneumonia and tuberculosis, as well as infections related to HIV or AIDS.

Lung diseases. These affect your airways and breathing. Examples include:

  • Bronchitis. Whether it’s acute bronchitis caused by a virus or chronic bronchitis, which is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have a wet cough and trouble breathing.
  • COPD. This condition makes it hard to exhale (blow air out), so there’s less room for fresh air to come into your lungs. Emphysema caused by cigarette smoke is also a form of COPD in which the small air sacs in your lungs are damaged. 
  • Cystic fibrosis. This condition makes it hard to clear mucus from your airways, which leads to infections.
  • Excess fluid. When there’s too much fluid in your lungs — a condition called pulmonary edema — oxygen can’t move from your lungs into your blood. The body doesn’t get enough oxygen. If it comes on suddenly, it’s an emergency. If it’s chronic, you’ll have trouble breathing while lying down, and it may wake you up at night.
  • Pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot that travels through your bloodstream from another part of your body and gets stuck in the lungs. It causes shortness of breath.
  • Lung cancer. It causes chronic coughs, worsening shortness of breath, wheezing, and more.

Doctors diagnose breathing problems by doing a physical exam, asking about your overall health, and using various tests. 

Lung function tests measure lung function in people who have asthma. Some of these tests include:

  • Methacholine challenge. Doctors use this test to diagnose asthma. For this test, you inhale methacholine, which narrows your airways. The test checks how your lungs react.
  • Six-minute walk. Doctors use this test to get an idea of your fitness level. The test measures how far you can walk in six minutes.
  • Plethysmography. This test checks your lung capacity, or how much air you can take in and breathe out. You stand in a box that looks like a telephone booth, and a small device at your mouth measures pressure as you breathe.
  • Spirometry. This test measures your lung capacity and airflow. It can also tell whether your airways are blocked and, if so, how much. You breathe into a mouthpiece that connects to a machine. The machine measures how much air you can blow in and out of your lungs and how fast and how easily you can do it.

Other lung-related tests you may get include:

  • Blood test. A doctor or nurse will use a needle to take blood from a vein in your arm and send it to a lab for tests. The results can tell them whether conditions such as anemia or heart failure are making you short of breath.
  • Chest X-ray. Your doctor may take an X-ray to see inside your chest, including your heart, lungs, and bones. A chest X-ray may help diagnose pneumonia. But it can't identify most breathing problems by itself. 
  • CT scan of your chest. A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images. If you have long-term sinusitis, your doctor may order a special sinus CT scan.
  • EKG. You might get this test in your doctor’s office or a hospital. A technician attaches small electrodes to your chest with gel or tape, and a machine measures the electrical impulses that make your heart beat. An EKG helps to check the heart’s overall health, including whether it has any defects, irregularities, or heart rhythm problems. It can show your doctor if blood flow to the heart is impaired.

If allergic reactions cause you to wheeze or have trouble breathing, allergy tests might be ordered. Allergy tests help your doctor find the cause of your breathing problems by determining what triggers your reaction. These tests might include: 

Skin testing. During the scratch test, also called the skin prick test, your doctor puts a tiny drop of an allergen on your skin. The doctor then pokes a needle into the drop. If you’re allergic to that allergen, your body reacts by turning red at the site. It may also itch and swell.Another type of skin test involves your doctor injecting the allergen extract directly under your skin. 

Challenge test. During this test, your doctor gives you tiny amounts of the suspected allergen through your nose or mouth to test your reaction.

Blood tests. A radioallergosorbent test (RAST) detects and measures the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your blood. IgE antibodies are present in your blood if your body’s having an allergic reaction. 

There are several solutions to breathing problems — some you can do at home, and some your doctor provides. Treatments include:

Medications for breathing problems

For allergies. Allergy medicinesmay make it easier to breathe. Some are prescribed and some are available over the counter without a prescription. These include:

  • Antihistamines block the chemical called histamine, which is produced in your body during an allergic reaction. Examples include cetirizine (Zyrtec), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), or loratidine (Claritin). They help stop the reaction that causes symptoms such as itching, hives, and a runny nose.
  • Decongestants reduce the swelling of the tissues and blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. Bringing the swelling down makes it easier to breathe.
  • Allergy shots lower your sensitivity to allergens so you don’t have the reactions that cause symptoms. That may ease some breathing problems.

For asthma. Inhaled or oral asthma drugs help open airways and fight inflammation. They may help ease or prevent airway blockage and extra mucus production. Inhaled steroids reduce inflammation in your airways. Allergy shots can be used for asthma, too.

Oxygen therapy

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to help with your breathing problem. For home use, oxygen comes in tanks. The amount that you need per minute is prescribed. You may not need it all the time. You might use it only at certain times, such as during sleep or exercise.

Home treatment for breathing problems

Things that cause breathing problems are known as triggers. Avoiding triggers is the top way to control breathing problems caused by allergies and asthma. It helps to keep airways open by decreasing sensitivity and controlling inflammation. Triggers include:

  • Viral infections (COVID, cold, or flu)
  • Pollen
  • Pet dander
  • Mold spores
  • Dust mites
  • Cockroaches
  • Irritating pollutants in the air
  • Fragrances and fumes
  • Smoke
  • Food allergies
  • Exercise
  • Cold weather

Avoiding triggers is the main way to control breathing problems caused by allergies and asthma. To avoid triggers:

  • Wear a mask when doing housework or yard work.
  • Limit contact with furry pets.
  • Wash bed linens at least once a week.
  • Stay indoors during peak pollen times.
  • Change the filter on your air conditioner often.

Other things you can do at home to improve your breathing:

Yes, medical treatments can help you manage breathing problems.

If you have difficulty breathing, talk to your doctor right away. Waiting weeks or months until treating a breathing problem may lead to damage that takes longer to heal.

Getting the right diagnosis leads to getting the right treatment for you. Breathing problems can be managed or prevented with proper treatment.

 

Breathing problems can appear as shortness of breath, wheezing, or breathing that is too fast or too slow. Causes of breathing problems include infections, asthma, allergies, and chronic conditions. It’s important to get medical attention if you experience any breathing problems. Getting the cause of the breathing problem diagnosed means you can get the proper treatment. Treatment options include prescription and over-the-counter medications and oxygen. There are also steps to take at home to reduce exposure to triggers, which helps control symptoms.

Is it serious if I can’t take a deep breath?

Yes. Not being able to take a deep breath is serious. When you don’t get enough air into your lungs, your oxygen level may drop too low. You need medical care if you have trouble breathing. Call 911 or have someone drive you to an emergency room if:

  •  Your breathing trouble comes on suddenly.
  •  You’re so short of breath that you can’t talk.

How can I prevent breathing problems?

Breathing problems can be prevented or managed with proper treatment, which could include prescription medicine, over-the-counter medication, and home remedies. Getting the right treatment plan for you depends on getting a diagnosis. So, it’s important to contact your doctor right away if you have symptoms of breathing problems.