Get medical care right away

Call 911 or your local emergency number or have someone drive you to the emergency department at a hospital if you have:

• Severe shortness of breath that comes on suddenly.
• Shortness of breath with chest pain, fainting, upset stomach, blue lips or nails, or a change in mental alertness.
• New shortness of breath that starts after not being active for a long time. This may happen, for example, after surgery, illness or injury, or from being in a leg cast.
• New shortness of breath after a long plane or car ride.

These could be signs of a heart attack or a blood clot in the lungs.

Make a doctor's appointment

Make an appointment with your healthcare professional if your shortness of breath happens along with:

• Swelling in your feet and ankles.
• Trouble breathing when you lie flat.
• High fever, chills and cough.
• A high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, called wheezing.
• Worsening of long-term shortness of breath.

Self-care

To help keep long-term shortness of breath from getting worse:

• Stop smoking. Quit smoking, or don't start. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD. If you have COPD, quitting can slow worsening of the condition and help stop complications. Talk with your healthcare professional about ways to help you quit.
• Stay away from pollutants. As much as possible, stay away from allergens and toxins such as chemical fumes or secondhand smoke.
• Avoid extreme temperatures. Activity in very hot and humid or very cold conditions may worsen shortness of breath caused by lung disease.
• Have an action plan. Talk with your healthcare professional about what to do if your symptoms get worse.
• Be careful in high altitudes. When traveling to areas with higher altitudes, take time to adjust and limit activity until you get used to the change.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you be physically fit and make it easier to handle activities. Exercise, and losing weight if needed, may help lessen shortness of breath caused by being out of condition. Talk with your healthcare professional before starting an exercise program.
• Take your medicines. Skipping medicines for lung and heart conditions can make shortness of breath worse.
• Regularly check your oxygen equipment. If you use oxygen, make sure that you have enough supplies and that the equipment works properly.