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Can Post Nasal Drips Cause Intermittent Breathlessness?
Posted on
Thu, 8 Mar 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 8 Mar 2018
Answered on
Fri, 10 Nov 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : Yesterday, I walked from my kitchen to my laundry and saw on my fit bit, my pulse was 105. That is odd for such a short walk at a speed only a little above my usual. My chesxt fees kind of tight and I have the feeling that I'm having trouble getting my breath. My nose is a little stuffy, but I can blow air out. Last week, I was sick in that I was sleeping all the time and felt really dragged out. I had to blow my nose continually, but it was always clear. One day when I was sleeping ahttps://www.healthcaremagic.com/web/images/mashup/hpProcessV1.pngnd in the process of waking up, I felt as if I couldn't get my breath and was breqathing deeply through my mouth. After I got up, that feeling subsided. I had an appointment with my oncologist (5 years out from breast cancer) and my dr. suggested that it could have been caused by some post nasal drip that went down my throat (?) Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
May need to be seen
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As you stated, the pulse should not normally become so elevated at such a short distance. The slight nasal congestion can affect the heart rate should not have too large an effect.
If you are still having chest tightness and shortness of breath then you should be seen to rule out heart disease.
If you have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking- then you should be seen.
If you are no longer having symptoms and there is no history of any of the above chronic illnesses-
A temporary increase in the pulse is not as concerning as if it was sustained. This means that if you do not have any further increases in your pulse then you do not need to be concerned.
You can continue to recheck at different points during the day to see if it continues to be elevated or if the other symptoms restart.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician
May need to be seen
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As you stated, the pulse should not normally become so elevated at such a short distance. The slight nasal congestion can affect the heart rate should not have too large an effect.
If you are still having chest tightness and shortness of breath then you should be seen to rule out heart disease.
If you have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking- then you should be seen.
If you are no longer having symptoms and there is no history of any of the above chronic illnesses-
A temporary increase in the pulse is not as concerning as if it was sustained. This means that if you do not have any further increases in your pulse then you do not need to be concerned.
You can continue to recheck at different points during the day to see if it continues to be elevated or if the other symptoms restart.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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