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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does A Sudden Onset Of Breathlessness And Light Headedness Suggest?

looking for an explanation. Sitting quietly and start gasping for air, 4 to 5 breathes, then it goes away. Happens maybe once a day at most, has increased in frequency over the last several months. No other apparent symptoms such as light headedness, heart pounding or warning.
Mon, 8 Jun 2015
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. Sudden onset breathlessness and light headedness can occur due to a number of conditions. Most common reason for such presentation is some medical problem mainly heart illness. Visit a physician and get yourself checked to rule out any heart problem. If that comes out to be normal then other cause could be some chronic nutrient deficiency. Low vitamin B12 levels in brain cause easy fatiguability and may result in such symptoms. Apart from this anxiety can be the main cause for such symptoms. Anxiety even if you dont have other classical symptoms still can cause such symptoms. Please visit a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment. Medicines like SSRIs as Sertraline, Fluoxetine etc are used in such symptoms. These medicines help to reduce the symptoms and result in improvement. Visit a psychiatrist for help.

Thanks, Take care
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
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What Does A Sudden Onset Of Breathlessness And Light Headedness Suggest?

Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. Sudden onset breathlessness and light headedness can occur due to a number of conditions. Most common reason for such presentation is some medical problem mainly heart illness. Visit a physician and get yourself checked to rule out any heart problem. If that comes out to be normal then other cause could be some chronic nutrient deficiency. Low vitamin B12 levels in brain cause easy fatiguability and may result in such symptoms. Apart from this anxiety can be the main cause for such symptoms. Anxiety even if you dont have other classical symptoms still can cause such symptoms. Please visit a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment. Medicines like SSRIs as Sertraline, Fluoxetine etc are used in such symptoms. These medicines help to reduce the symptoms and result in improvement. Visit a psychiatrist for help. Thanks, Take care Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi