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What Causes Shortness Of Breath After Eating Anything?

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Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015
Question: My granddaughter gets short of breath after eating. She says pizza, cake, cheese. Not any one food group. She also gets short of breath going up stairs. she is not overweight, does crossfit without shortness of breath. States after eating she can't take a deep breath. She can lift 135# weights from the floor to over her head and is under 120# and is 5ft 9 in
I told her to see a cardiologist or possibly GI for hiatal hernia. Also looked up symptoms and it showed GSD2 as possible.
Also after eating she does a lot of yawning
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Possibly an anxiety problem

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your query to HCM,

Now, these are my thoughts, from your story. I don't think it is GSD2 if by that you mean Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, because she would have had a lot of other problems and the test would have shown problems.

From what you are describing, the symptoms of your granddaughter look like she is having anxiety attacks.
Patients describe it as tightness in the chest, like an elephant is sat in the chest. This will cause the breathing to be more superficial, to hyperventilate and cause other symptoms like dizziness or numbness in the hands.
I don't know if your daughter has this symptoms, but it varies from person to person. The characteristic of these attacks is they they happen after eating because the blood is focused on the stomach and not much in the brain, causing these attacks and sleepiness sometimes.
They last 1-2 hours sometimes, and typically the people who have them are people who have had a stressful life event the last 6 months, overworking, physical or social trauma, ect...but your granddaughter can maybe identify the cause.

In general, if this is not stopping her for doing the everyday activities, and not bothering her much, it doesn't need medicine treatment. Other things that help is physical activity, relaxing and taking time for herself, talking with someone if that is helpful to release the tension in the body.
If it is happening more frequently, then she maybe need to consult a local physiologist and consider therapy of maybe medicines.

Fill me up, if the explanation above makes sense in the case of your granddaughter. She is young, and if the tests have resulted well, than thats it what we think about, with the symptoms she has.

Let me know if you have other questions, or if you need any further clarifications. I would be happy to answer.

Take care,
Dr. Papaqako


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (15 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer. I am sure it is very probable. She has very high expectations for herself and tries to be the best at everything she does.
I have sent the answer to her as this was another possibility raised to her yesterday. I am hoping she is relieved by it and tries to decrease the stress she puts on herself. But. as your experience shows, she probably will not be able to do it without some intervention, pharmaceutical or therapeutic.
Thanks again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Physical activity and the cognitive therapy most probably to help more

Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear,

From my experience, and from the evidences the last years, it shows that she surely can do it by herself, and with the help of her friends and loved ones- but she will need to be open, and ask for help when she identifies that she needs it.

The medicines have shown to have lots of side effects, and sometimes low results. Physical activity, rest and psychotherapy have shown to be of much better help.
If she can meet a professional I'm sure would be helpful, but if the limitation that these symptoms are causing are not as much as to limit her from doing daily activity, then she will be just fine with trying to limit the level of expectations and stress in her life.
Only she knows what is that is bothering her, and only her willing will be able to help her.

I hope this is of help.
Again, let me know if you need any more clarification. If not, please rate the question and close it.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1804 Questions

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What Causes Shortness Of Breath After Eating Anything?

Brief Answer: Possibly an anxiety problem Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for posting your query to HCM, Now, these are my thoughts, from your story. I don't think it is GSD2 if by that you mean Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, because she would have had a lot of other problems and the test would have shown problems. From what you are describing, the symptoms of your granddaughter look like she is having anxiety attacks. Patients describe it as tightness in the chest, like an elephant is sat in the chest. This will cause the breathing to be more superficial, to hyperventilate and cause other symptoms like dizziness or numbness in the hands. I don't know if your daughter has this symptoms, but it varies from person to person. The characteristic of these attacks is they they happen after eating because the blood is focused on the stomach and not much in the brain, causing these attacks and sleepiness sometimes. They last 1-2 hours sometimes, and typically the people who have them are people who have had a stressful life event the last 6 months, overworking, physical or social trauma, ect...but your granddaughter can maybe identify the cause. In general, if this is not stopping her for doing the everyday activities, and not bothering her much, it doesn't need medicine treatment. Other things that help is physical activity, relaxing and taking time for herself, talking with someone if that is helpful to release the tension in the body. If it is happening more frequently, then she maybe need to consult a local physiologist and consider therapy of maybe medicines. Fill me up, if the explanation above makes sense in the case of your granddaughter. She is young, and if the tests have resulted well, than thats it what we think about, with the symptoms she has. Let me know if you have other questions, or if you need any further clarifications. I would be happy to answer. Take care, Dr. Papaqako