Why My Breathing Will Suddenly Stop And Come Back With A Tingling Sensation?

Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2025

Question: hi! recently through these past few months i’ve been experiencing severe breathing issues. my breathing will suddenly stop and come back with a tingling sensation throughout my body. the ER had whisked it away as anxiety but the physician’s assistant i had seen at my family doctor had written it down as asthma, yet the albuterol is not helping. tonight I experienced very tight chest pains, used the albuterol and it never worked, and I’ve had shortness of breath for hours, pain in my diaphragm area and in my chest. sometimes the breathing issues come in contact with very brief bouts of lightheadedness. it’s very tiring.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done physical examination by doctor and get done ecg, 2d echo.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
By your history and description, possibility of heart diseases is more.
So better to consult physician in person and get done clinical examination, ecg and 2d echo.
Also get done CT pulmonary Angiography to rule out pulmonary embolism.
Also get done Pulmonary Function Test to diagnose asthma and it's severity.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 hours later)

Hi! I still feel like I have tightness in my chest and throat. I scheduled a physician’s appointment for december 3rd. What can I do until then?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Any stressor in your life? Stressful lifestyle, anxiety?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.

First of all, sorry for the late reply as I was busy.

May I know a few more things--
1. Stressful lifestyle?
2. Any stressor in your life? Anxiety?

Please let me know the answers to the above-asked questions so that I can guide you better.

Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 hours later)

Very much stress! My breathing issues had started about a year ago, and now it constantly feels like I have something stuck inside of my chest that gets agitated when I try to eat. I have reached out to a gastroenterologist for more info as well.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stress and anxiety can also cause similar symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
First of all, sorry for late reply as I was busy.
Stress and anxiety can also cause similar symptoms.
So get done ecg, 2d echo and CT pulmonary Angiography.
If all these are normal then possibility of stress and anxiety related symptoms is more likely.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj