What Causes Heavy Breathing?

You may experience periods of heavy breathing temporarily due to an illness or infection. But other medical conditions can make this symptom persistent. How it’s treated depends on the underlying cause.

You might notice heavier breathing during physical activity or when you climb stairs. During exertion, your body requires more oxygen, so you breathe more intensely.

If you’re breathing heavily while at rest, it indicates your body is working harder to obtain enough oxygen. This can happen because less air is entering through your nose and mouth or because insufficient oxygen is reaching your bloodstream.

Anything from a blocked nose to a pulmonary disorder, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can make breathing feel more difficult.

What causes it?

To identify causes of heavy breathing, it helps to understand how respiration functions.

Breathing is a coordinated process involving your nose, mouth, and lungs. When you inhale, air travels in through your nose and mouth to your lungs. It reaches tiny, balloon-like air sacs called alveoli. There, oxygen transfers into your bloodstream to be delivered throughout your body.

Some health issues can interfere with breathing at various stages of this process.

The following conditions can lead to heavy breathing.

Colds and sinus infections

Colds and sinus infections usually don’t cause heavy breathing in otherwise healthy people. However, if you have an existing lung condition, you may develop labored breathing and additional symptoms.

Viruses and bacteria can block your nasal passages, making it tougher to pull enough air into your airways. Colds boost mucus production, and sinus infections cause inflammation in the sinuses—the air-filled cavities behind your nose and cheeks.

Some infections can progress to lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, which may produce heavy breathing.

Other common cold symptoms include:

• nasal drainage
• sneezing
• cough
• sore throat
• headache
• body aches
• low-grade fever

Symptoms of a sinus infection may include:

• nasal discharge that may be green
• facial pain or tenderness
• headache
• cough
• fever
• fatigue
• bad breath

Viral infections often resolve on their own over time. Sinus infections caused by bacteria may need antibiotic therapy.

Allergies

Allergies are an exaggerated response by the immune system to substances that are typically harmless. Common triggers include:

• pollen
• grass
• pet dander
• mold

When your immune system reacts, it releases histamine and other chemicals. If you’re unfamiliar with allergy signs, you might mistake the reaction for a cold. Allergic symptoms can include:

• sneezing
• stuffy or runny nose
• watery eyes
• hives or rash
• nausea
• diarrhea
• swelling around the eyes

The most severe response is anaphylaxis, which can cause swelling of the throat and mouth, making breathing difficult.

Anaphylaxis is an emergency

Anaphylaxis may present with symptoms such as:

• skin rash
• slow pulse
• anaphylactic shock

This condition can be deadly if not treated immediately. Emergency management often includes epinephrine.

Asthma

Asthma is a long-term condition in which the airways in your lungs become inflamed and narrowed. This inflammation makes it more difficult for air to move in and out of your lungs.

Other signs of asthma may include:

• wheezing
• coughing
• shortness of breath
• a tight sensation in the chest

Asthma medications, taken daily or as needed during flare-ups, can open the airways and ease breathing.

Respiratory infections

Infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis affect the lungs and are caused by bacteria or viruses. Additional symptoms can include:

• cough that may bring up clear or blood-tinged sputum
• fever
• chills
• fatigue
• headache
• chest discomfort
• loss of appetite

Bacterial lung infections may be treated with antibiotics. Viral infections often improve on their own within a week or two.

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause muscle tension and faster breathing. This rapid, heavy breathing—known as hyperventilation—can sometimes produce chest pain that’s mistaken for a heart attack.

Other anxiety-related symptoms include:

• rapid heartbeat
• dizziness
• excessive sweating
• trembling
• a churning sensation in the stomach
• diarrhea

Treatment for anxiety may include relaxation techniques, psychotherapy, and medications to reduce symptoms.

Obesity

Excess body weight can press on the lungs, making it more difficult for them to expand. People with obesity may find breathing more challenging, particularly during physical activity. In some cases, other health problems can contribute to weight gain.

Obesity can also increase the risk of:

• heart disease
• diabetes
• sleep apnea
• other medical issues

Managing weight through diet and exercise is typically the most effective approach to reduce obesity-related breathing problems.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD is a collection of lung conditions, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that make breathing difficult. It’s frequently the result of long-term smoking-related lung injury.

Common COPD symptoms include:

• persistent cough
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• increased mucus production
• wheezing

COPD management can help control these symptoms and may involve:

• medications
• pulmonary rehabilitation
• supplemental oxygen

Heart failure

Heart failure can develop when conditions like coronary artery disease or a heart attack damage the heart so it cannot pump blood effectively to the body.

Shortness of breath can occur when blood backs up in blood vessels and fluid leaks into the lungs.

Other indicators of heart failure include:

• chest pain
• rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
• cough
• dizziness
• swelling in the legs or ankles
• rapid weight gain

Treatment for heart failure varies with its type and severity and may include:

• medications
• implantable devices
• surgery

Lung cancer

Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath can be signs of lung cancer, particularly in advanced stages.

Other possible symptoms include:

• persistent cough
• chest pain
• increased phlegm
• hoarseness
• coughing up blood

Approaches to treating lung cancer depend on several factors, including:

• cancer stage
• whether the cancer has spread (metastasis)
• tumor size and position

What causes heavy breathing while you’re sleeping?

You may not realize you’re breathing heavily while asleep; a bed partner might notice loud breathing or gasping.

Heavy nighttime breathing can be due to obstructive sleep apnea. In this disorder, the throat muscles relax and block the airway opening, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep.

Other signs of sleep apnea include:

• loud snoring
• morning headaches
• daytime drowsiness
• irritability
• trouble remembering or concentrating

Treatment for sleep apnea often involves continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which uses a mask to deliver pressurized air to keep the airway open while you sleep. An oral appliance to position the jaw properly at night may also help.

Other causes of heavy breathing at night can include:

• nasal congestion from a cold or respiratory infection
• COPD
• heart failure
• obesity

When should you see a doctor?

Talk with a healthcare professional if heavy breathing persists beyond a week or two.

Some signs indicate a medical emergency and require immediate attention. These include:

• difficulty catching your breath
• chest pain or severe tightness
• blood in your phlegm
• swelling of the mouth or a sensation of throat tightness
• dizziness
• fainting

Can you stop it?

Some causes of heavy breathing, such as sleep apnea, may be preventable. Other causes, like infections, can be harder to avoid altogether.

Lifestyle measures may help lower the risk of certain causes of heavy breathing.

These practices include:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• washing hands regularly
• taking steps to avoid infections
• quitting smoking, if applicable
• treating allergies with immunotherapy when appropriate

Takeaway

Heavy breathing indicates your body is working harder to obtain the oxygen it needs.

Infections and chronic conditions like obesity and heart failure can cause or contribute to heavy breathing. Treatment focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying cause.