Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

mild shortness of breath

November 9, 2019 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

my general practitioner has diagnosed me with acute bronchitis, with mild asthma. I have allergic asthma related to rodents which is usually not in need of treatment.
Neither Atrovent nor Berodual in inhalation are bringing any improvement with the bronchitis, also in the peak flow (approximately 400 unchanged from the normal value of 530). Only Symbicort inhalation brings some relief. No fever, no pain.

Now my question is, I can take deep breaths but still feel like I am not getting enough air. No expectoration, besides white foam and clear secretions. Is this shortness of breath a result of the acute bronchitis and normal?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening,

If the exhaled air cannot be breathed out, it is not possible to adequately breathe in new air, which causes a sensation of shortness of breath. I would continue taking Symbicort, then it should improve soon. It is not uncommon for a bronchitis to temporarily worsen a mild tendency towards asthma.

Best regards, Dr. Gehring