How about gasping for air after a walk up the steps? 😓The hope that millions of people living with obesity cling to every single time they wake up. Obesity not only makes a person more likely to suffer from heart disease and diabetes; it’s also less openly discussed that: Can Obesity causes Shortness of Breath?
If you did not know Can Obesity causes Shortness of Breath? – Of course, lung disease or heart issues are often to blame for breathing troubles—it requires the lungs and cardiovascular muscles working efficiently in order to keep you comfortably alive. While this invisible villain may often be overlooked, its impacts can have catastrophic consequences.
Clinically, obesity causes shortness of breath is called obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Some call it Pickwickian syndrome as well. It shares many similarities with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which you might have heard of.
Overweight and obesity are other risk factors of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome- which is indeed a severe form of Sleep Apnea (but as said before can very well exist on its own without any sleep issue, or vice versa). Your risk of obesity hypoventilation syndrome is high if you have been previously diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.
Shortness of breath—is that okay
While, not all shortness of breath is an indicator of a critical medical illness. Frequent breathlessness on exertion or between. You might experience this sometimes when doing stamina activities, like walking or cardiovascular exercises etc. Exercise requires more oxygen to nourish muscles.
Our noses and lungs act as filters for the oxygen we extract from our breath that gets distributed to every organ in your body once it hits the bloodstream. Eventually, the blood carrying oxygenated gas gets delivered to the muscles in your body as a result of being pumped by heart. You see, your heart and lungs have to work so hard when you can barely catch a breath.
Am I Overweight 958×459 ( can Can Obesity cause Shortness of Breath?)
The best way to know if you are an overweight person is by checking your Body Mass Index (BMI), according to most specialists. The CDC comments on body mass index, stating that anywhere from 18.5 to 24.9 is normal
Overweight has a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 and obese is ≥30 BMI
Causes Shortness of Breath
Some medical problems can cause continuous shortness of breath.Asthma Causes Shortness of Breath
- Lung Disease Causes Shortness of Breath
- Heart Failure Causes Shortness of Breath
- Obesity Causes Shortness of Breath
- Poor Fitness Causes Shortness of Breath
Breathlessness could be acute (lasts less than a week) from:
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Choking
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Heart Attack
- Infection
- Injury
- Medications
- Extreme Temperatures
Why Obesity Causes Shortness of Breath
The first and most apparent symptom of extra weight is the deposition of fat in your chest and belly. Amount of fat keeps piling up. Your lungs may have difficulty expanding to their full capacity when you take a deep breath. This causes the air in your lungs to squeeze out until you only have what can be used at the top of them (it is called residual volume and it’s where all this fancy physics based equipment comes into play).
Lung collapse, or unrecognized shortness of breath in sleep apnea related to obesity is likely at night first as well. When you lie back, the more weight in your chest makes it tough to breathe deeply This can lead to some of your lungs becoming collapsed, which could result in difficulty taking air inside and outside. As weight gain continues, extra fat will get added on. Left unattended, lung tissue will end up being long-term collapsed.
Extra fat in the chest and abdominal area make it difficult for your lungs to expand properly when you sit up right. Shortness of breath when the large parts of lungs are not ventilated because air exchange is reduced.
Breathing solutions for overweight individuals?
Neither Pulmonary Rehabilitation nor Exercise Training Will Help You Breathe Easier
Physiotherapists use cardiovascular exercises of all kinds, including practice cycling or cross mentors in the event that you can’t walk for reasonable periods to help your lung capacity. They also teach how to improve respiration and strengthen the muscles, so as not to have bent-backed posture.
Another symptom is when you get short of breath during exercise. In that case, the measures should be taken as well. Get cleared by the doctor: Before beginning any new type of activity, make sure you get a physical exam and fitness assessment from your doctor.
Treatment to Cure Shortness of Breath
Walking — If there is anything as natural physical exercise, then it has to be walking. Twisting and turning your spine fires up everything from the skeletal muscles to internal organs. Heat pumps functioning and breathing. Head carriage and posture are better. It also massages your tummy to induce peristalsis or the movement of waste towards its final destination.
Breathing Exercises: They get your bones active again. Exercises: exercises you can perform such as Yoga, sophrology Pilates relaxation ideal for improving the flexibility of your thoracic pectoral cage. Bet you think I was going to also say better breathing, didn’t you.
Conclusion
If you are overweight, losing weight may help with breathing. Weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is realistic for weight reduction little changes in eating habits and physical activity.
If you are having any kind of breathing issues, it is recommended that both you and your physician exercise caution when selecting an exercise regimen.
