Unlike shortness of breath and wheezing, labored breathing is not a medical term and is not listed as a symptom in the International 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.
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:
Apnea: Abnormal gaps in breathing (such as occurs with sleep apnea) Bradypnea: Abnormally slow breathing Dyspnea: Shortness of breath Hyperpnea: Fast, deeper breathing Stridor: A harsh, grating breathing sound Tachypnea: Fast, shallow breathing Wheezing: A high-pitched, whistling sound made when exhaling
In extreme cases, labored breathing can lead to asphyxia if your body doesn’t get enough oxygen to keep you from passing out. When labored breathing is caused by the blockage of airflow, suffocation can occur. Both can lead to the same thing: death.
Causes of Labored Breathing
Labored breathing can occur for any number of reasons, from allergic reactions like anaphylaxis to anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Labored breathing may also be the result of a restrictive lung disease (in which you have problems expanding the lungs) or an obstructive lung disease (in which you have problems emptying the lungs).
The causes of labored breathing can be broadly classified as being either acute (rapidly developing and often severe) or chronic (persistent and progressive).
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.
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:
Short-acting beta-agonists: These drugs provide quick relief of shortness of breath and wheezing by relaxing the lungs. They are commonly delivered via an inhaler or nebulizer. Epinephrine injection: This is an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) used in emergency situations to treat anaphylaxis. It reduces swelling of the airways while narrowing blood vessels to increase blood pressure. Corticosteroids: Also known as steroids, these drugs are used to rapidly reduce inflammation associated with obstructive conditions such as asthma or COPD. Oxygen therapy: Oxygen can be administered through a face mask, nasal cannula, or tracheal intubation to increase blood oxygen levels. Anxiolytics: Anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed to treat panic attacks and other anxiety disorders that trigger labored breathing.
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:
Physical exam: During a physical exam, a healthcare provider will listen to your lungs, count your breaths per minute, monitor your pulse, and look for visible symptoms. These include nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, or cyanosis. Blood tests: An arterial blood gas (ABG) test can measure how much oxygen you have in your blood. A complete blood count (CBC) can check for anemia that reduces the delivery of oxygen to cells. Imaging studies: A chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can detect abnormal changes in the lungs such as pneumonia or pleural effusion (“fluid in the lungs”). Pulmonary function tests: This panel of tests measures how well your lungs are working. This includes spirometry, which measures the speed and force by which air is expelled from the lungs. Electrocardiogram: Also known as an ECG, this is a non-invasive test that measures the electrical activity of the heart to see how well it is functioning.
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, an echocardiogram (which images the heart with reflected sound waves) and cardiac stress test (which evaluates your heart during physical activity) may also be ordered.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
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:
Gasping for airWheezingInability to talk due to breathing problemsDizziness, lightheadedness, or faintingProfuse sweating with clammy skinSkin or lips that are turning blue
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.
Reduced exercise 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.
These include muscles called the scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and trapezius, among others.
Even if it resolves, see a healthcare provider and have it checked out, especially if it occurred for no known reason.
