Respiratory Symptoms

Respiratory symptoms may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the respiratory tract may also involve other body systems.

Respiratory symptoms may accompany other symptoms affecting the respiratory system including:

• Absence of breathing (apnea)
• Cough that gets more severe over time
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Coughing up clear, yellow, light brown, or green mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Loose, wet cough that produces thick white or yellow phlegm
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing (whistling sound made with breathing)

Respiratory symptoms may accompany symptoms related to the cardiovascular system including:

• Absence of heart beat (asystole)
• Angina (chest pain due to decreased blood supply to heart muscle)
• Chest pain or pressure
• Irregular heart beats (arrhythmia)
• Low heart rate (bradycardia)
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)

• Respiratory symptoms can accompany other symptoms including:
• Anxiety
• Bluish lips, nails or skin
• Enlargement of lymph nodes
• Fever and chills
• Runny nose (nasal congestion)
• Sore throat
• Sweating
• Thickening of tissue beneath the nail beds (clubbing)

In some cases, respiratory symptoms can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Bluish lips, nails or skin
• Confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment
• Difficulty breathing
• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• Shallow breathing (hypopnea)
• Wheezing (whistling sound made with breathing)

Respiratory symptoms are common symptoms of lung and heart disease, emotions, or injury.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis) and asthma are common causes of respiratory symptoms. Other common causes include infections, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis. Inflammation also causes respiratory symptoms, commonly seen in pleuritis or chronic bronchitis.

Heart conditions can lead to respiratory symptoms, especially in severe cases, such as congestive cardiac failure. Anxiety and panic attacks are common causes of respiratory symptoms and include rapid breathing that may result in hyperventilation or fainting.

Respiratory symptoms may be caused by respiratory system disorders including:

• Acute bronchitis

• Asthma or allergies

• Bronchiectasis (widening of the airways)

• Bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways) or bronchitis

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis)

• Decreased inspired oxygen levels from high altitude

• Lung cancer or metastatic tumors

• Pulmonary aspiration (inhaling blood, vomited material or other substances into lungs)

• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs)

• Respiratory infections, such as cold or flu

• Tuberculosis (serious infection affecting the lungs and other organs)

Respiratory symptoms can also be caused by cardiovascular system disorders including:

• Cardiomyopathy (weakened or abnormal heart muscle and function)

• Cardiovascular disease (due to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, or other causes)

• Congenital heart disease

• Congestive heart failure (deterioration of the heart’s ability to pump blood)

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Respiratory symptoms can also be caused by emotional disorders including:

• Anger

• Anxiety

• Fear

• Panic attack

In some cases, respiratory symptoms may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:

• Alcohol or drug overdose

• Anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction)

• Chest trauma

• Choking on a foreign object in your airway

• Epiglottitis (life-threatening inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, a tissue flap between the tongue and windpipe)

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

• Pneumonia

• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

• Pulmonary embolism (blockage of a pulmonary artery due to blood clot)

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your respiratory symptoms including:

• When did you first notice your respiratory symptoms?

• When do you feel respiratory symptoms?

• Do you have any other symptoms?

• What medications are you taking?

• Do you have any allergies?

Because respiratory symptoms can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

• Heart failure

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

• Organ failure or dysfunction

• Respiratory failure and respiratory arrest

• Spread of cancer

• Spread of infection

• Stroke