Shortness of breath
First, in response to the question, does hypothyroidism cause shortness of breath or not? It must be said that yes, hypothyroidism can cause shortness of breath. Hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism can have many negative effects on the respiratory system and lead to complications such as shortness of breath, suffocation (suffocation), asthma and other respiratory problems. Another possible explanation for shortness of breath in people with hypothyroidism is reduced respiratory effort. Thyroid hormones play an important role in maintaining the proper functioning of the respiratory center in your brain, which controls the speed and depth of your breathing. When thyroid hormone levels are low, your respiratory center may be affected, leading to a decreased urge to breathe and a feeling of shortness of breath.
What are the symptoms of shortness of breath caused by hypothyroidism?
Some of the symptoms of shortness of breath caused by hypothyroidism are:
- Labored or difficult breathing even at rest
- Feeling of lack of air during daily activities and shortness of breath after exercise
- Panting
- Fast breathing
- Need to sit up instead of lying down to breathe more easily
- Difficult breathing
- Stiffness in the chest
- Fast and shallow breathing
- Suffocation
- heart beat
- Wheezing
- Dizziness
- cough
- Frequent yawning for air
The main cause of shortness of breath is swelling of the muscles and soft tissues around the throat and narrowing of the respiratory tract.
How does hypothyroidism cause shortness of breath?
Thyroid hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland and plays an important role in regulating the body’s metabolism. Hypothyroidism reduces the secretion of this hormone. Decreased thyroid hormone slows down metabolism and reduces oxygen consumption in the body. Also, the tissues of the body, including the respiratory muscles, experience weakness and fatigue. Hypothyroidism also causes fluid accumulation in the tissues and their swelling. This swelling in the throat and upper respiratory tracts causes the narrowing of the airways and difficulty in breathing. In addition to the swelling, the weakness of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm also causes a decrease in respiratory function and lung capacity due to hypothyroidism. As a result, the person feels a lack of air, shortness of breath, hard and fast breathing. These symptoms can occur while resting or during activity.
What is the relationship between hypothyroidism and shortness of breath?
Factors associated with hypothyroidism that lead to shortness of breath are as follows:
Fatty liver: People with hypothyroidism may have high blood cholesterol levels, and fatty liver is somewhat common in these people. A fatty liver can lead to excess fat production in the body, which in turn can lead to shortness of breath and breathing problems.
Cardiovascular: Hypothyroidism can cause a decrease in heart rate and prevent the effective pumping of blood to different parts of the body. This condition weakens the heart muscle, reduces cardiac output, and increases the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic heart failure or broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which has symptoms similar to a heart attack, all of which can exacerbate shortness of breath. do
Metabolism and weight: Hypothyroidism is usually associated with a decrease in the body’s metabolism. This means that the body’s ability to burn fat and energy decreases. Weight gain is usually seen in people with hypothyroidism. Gaining weight can aggravate shortness of breath, because the extra load affects the respiratory system.
Sleep apnea (nocturnal airway obstruction): Nocturnal airway obstruction, known as sleep apnea, can be more common in people with hypothyroidism. This problem leads to severe shortness of breath during sleep and can lead to mild to severe breathing problems.
All these factors make people with hypothyroidism more short of breath when faced with exercise or daily activities. If you are in any way concerned about your shortness of breath and believe that hypothyroidism may be a factor causing your shortness of breath, it is best to consult your doctor. He can diagnose this by performing various tests and help treat it to manage your shortness of breath.
How is it treated?
As your thyroid hormone levels normalize, the respiratory center in your brain can function optimally and improve your motivation to breathe. Relieving muscle weakness and other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism can also help with better breathing.
Treating hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone replacement drugs can help improve shortness of breath. Of course, the use of respiratory drugs and physiotherapy is also effective in improving the symptoms of shortness of breath. In general, the following methods are suggested for the treatment of shortness of breath caused by hypothyroidism:
- First, be sure to avoid triggers that may aggravate your shortness of breath, such as smoke, allergens, or vigorous physical activity. Then get into a relaxed position, one that allows you to breathe more easily, such as sitting upright and leaning back.
- Taking thyroid hormone replacement drugs such as levothyroxine or levothyroxine sodium to compensate for hormone deficiency and treat hypothyroidism. This main treatment improves the symptoms of shortness of breath.
- Using drugs such as bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids to widen the airways and facilitate breathing.
- Regular breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy to strengthen respiratory muscles
- Use of respiratory devices such as CPAP in case of sleep disorders related to shortness of breath
- Lose weight if you are overweight, because a lot of weight can put more pressure on the chest.
- Treatment of concomitant diseases such as asthma or obstructive sleep apnea that can aggravate shortness of breath.
- Surgical treatments such as tracheostomy in severe and late cases of shortness of breath
Therefore, by combining drug treatment, respiratory physiotherapy, weight loss and treatment of concomitant diseases, it is possible to significantly improve the symptoms of shortness of breath in people with hypothyroidism.
References
https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/hypothyroidism-air-hunger#anchor4
Patient education: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
