Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety And Stress Causing Asthma
Question: I have a need to know if long term Generalized Anxiety and Stress can provoke breathing to be constrained or limited to amount of air allowed to be inhaled. I have been under GAD and Traumatic Stress that has yet to go down because I allow it to be my concern regarding breathing. I am an ex smoker of 15 years, had numerous PFT's that come back in normal range, all say unremarkable. Last one commented on Asthma but I have no cough, no wheeze and no mucus. The Pulmonologists ($) that have read the pfts say no lung damage but POSSIBLE VERY mild Asthma. I have taken a PFT each time I have a panic attack and cant breath. This event though is not like the others where I hyperventalate but feel unable to take a deep breath. my upper chest is unresponsive to expanding.
Any way, the question is if all the Pulmonologist say the same, Is it possible that the anxiety can cause the lungs to be causing limited breathing. I also read that Anxiety can provoke Asthma, so if I have mild asthma, is my anxiety provoking it.
I guess this is two fold question.
1. Can the GAD/Panic cause the airways to limit air flow or amount of inflow.
2. Can Anxiety provoke the Asthma and maybe its Air Trapping that is being kept from expelling.
Any way, the question is if all the Pulmonologist say the same, Is it possible that the anxiety can cause the lungs to be causing limited breathing. I also read that Anxiety can provoke Asthma, so if I have mild asthma, is my anxiety provoking it.
I guess this is two fold question.
1. Can the GAD/Panic cause the airways to limit air flow or amount of inflow.
2. Can Anxiety provoke the Asthma and maybe its Air Trapping that is being kept from expelling.
Brief Answer:
Yes, anxiety can provoke asthma.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Answer to your 1st question.
Yes, anxiety can cause airways to limit air flow or amount of inflow. Anxiety has no direct effect on lungs but it causes indirect limitation in inhalation.
It causes tachypnea, so inhalation time will be less.
Answer to your 2nd question
Yes anxiety can provoke asthma. Any stressful event can provoke asthma. And it goes true with anxiety also.
But since your PFT s are stable, possibility of asthma is less. For confirmation of this, you need to get get done PFT at the time of anxiety or stressful event. If it is suggestive of asthma or obstructive airway pathology then you may have asthma.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks
Yes, anxiety can provoke asthma.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Answer to your 1st question.
Yes, anxiety can cause airways to limit air flow or amount of inflow. Anxiety has no direct effect on lungs but it causes indirect limitation in inhalation.
It causes tachypnea, so inhalation time will be less.
Answer to your 2nd question
Yes anxiety can provoke asthma. Any stressful event can provoke asthma. And it goes true with anxiety also.
But since your PFT s are stable, possibility of asthma is less. For confirmation of this, you need to get get done PFT at the time of anxiety or stressful event. If it is suggestive of asthma or obstructive airway pathology then you may have asthma.
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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So I am not hyperventilating so I will rule that out, my PFTs are stable, except they list a very mild obstruction. My anxiety has triggered sensations of heart attack. Since my recent pulmonary visit 2 weeks ago he told me I was free of lung disease and that I was very anxious. The only thing he thought possible was very mild asthma. I wonder if the very mild obstruction is very mild asthma ? And with my anxiety could that trigger an ongoing breathing issue.
Oh I have no cough or mucus so is mild asthma the narrowing of airways limiting airflow
Oh I have no cough or mucus so is mild asthma the narrowing of airways limiting airflow
Brief Answer:
What was your FEV 25-75?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Asthma starts with small airway obstruction. So small airway disease is seen in mild asthma.
And on PFT this can be picked up by seeing FEV25-75 value.
So please let me know your FEV25-75 value, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
What was your FEV 25-75?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Asthma starts with small airway obstruction. So small airway disease is seen in mild asthma.
And on PFT this can be picked up by seeing FEV25-75 value.
So please let me know your FEV25-75 value, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The last pft was 69%.
Brief Answer:
Is it FEV25-75 value?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
What value was this? Is it FEV1? Is it FVC? Is it ratio FEV1 /FVC? Or is it FEV25-75?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Is it FEV25-75 value?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
What value was this? Is it FEV1? Is it FVC? Is it ratio FEV1 /FVC? Or is it FEV25-75?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Last two PFTs .
Fvc. Fev1. Fev1/Fvc. Fev25/75
114. 103. 72. 69
92. 84. 73. 59.
They were taken 3 months apart. The top was the most recent. The bottom was the first. When I took the one with lower numbers I had been ill with vomiting and dry heaves 36 hours before. My chest was sore and hard to take deep breaths. This was 18 months ago
110. 103. 77. 85.
Those are the numbers from my 1st done in January 2001. 15 years ago
Those in between were similar the current sensations came on after a panic attack occurred almost 3 years ago. I went and had a pft shortly after. That was first mention of possible asthma. Symptoms disappeared but returned after another panic attack 12 months later again a pft and the results are the second one above followed by the first one above.
I try to take a deep breath and am limited If the last two pulminologists and last 2 psychiatrists have directly told me that I have no lung damage and no copd. What is affecting my breathing and is it all anxiety related or a combination of a breathing disorder amplified by anxiety ?
Fvc. Fev1. Fev1/Fvc. Fev25/75
114. 103. 72. 69
92. 84. 73. 59.
They were taken 3 months apart. The top was the most recent. The bottom was the first. When I took the one with lower numbers I had been ill with vomiting and dry heaves 36 hours before. My chest was sore and hard to take deep breaths. This was 18 months ago
110. 103. 77. 85.
Those are the numbers from my 1st done in January 2001. 15 years ago
Those in between were similar the current sensations came on after a panic attack occurred almost 3 years ago. I went and had a pft shortly after. That was first mention of possible asthma. Symptoms disappeared but returned after another panic attack 12 months later again a pft and the results are the second one above followed by the first one above.
I try to take a deep breath and am limited If the last two pulminologists and last 2 psychiatrists have directly told me that I have no lung damage and no copd. What is affecting my breathing and is it all anxiety related or a combination of a breathing disorder amplified by anxiety ?
Brief Answer:
Have you checked for bronchodilator reversibility?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of anxiety related symptoms is more.
Another important thing about PFT is that it is effort dependent test.
So values may change every time if you don't perform it well. So possibility of false positive results is more in PFT s.
Please let me know
1. Were your efforts optimal during the PFT test all the time?
2. Have you checked for bronchodilator reversibility? This is hallmark of asthma. If FEV25-75 value improves by 20% then chances of asthma is more.
So please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Have you checked for bronchodilator reversibility?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of anxiety related symptoms is more.
Another important thing about PFT is that it is effort dependent test.
So values may change every time if you don't perform it well. So possibility of false positive results is more in PFT s.
Please let me know
1. Were your efforts optimal during the PFT test all the time?
2. Have you checked for bronchodilator reversibility? This is hallmark of asthma. If FEV25-75 value improves by 20% then chances of asthma is more.
So please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
All tests were done with solid effort.
Only the first two were ever tested with bronchodilator challenge. It did improve but not 20 % it could have been 10+ %
Only the first two were ever tested with bronchodilator challenge. It did improve but not 20 % it could have been 10+ %
Brief Answer:
Possibility of asthma is less likely in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Asthma is less likely in your case.
Decline in values might be due to age related lung changes.
Please let me know if you have any blunt chest trauma in the past or not?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Possibility of asthma is less likely in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Asthma is less likely in your case.
Decline in values might be due to age related lung changes.
Please let me know if you have any blunt chest trauma in the past or not?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No trauma that I am ever aware of.
Tell me of the age related lung changes with age What can change.
Tell me of the age related lung changes with age What can change.
Brief Answer:
With age, lung loses its elasticity.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
With age, lung loses its elasticity. It also loses it stretching capacity.
So lung functions like FEV1, FVC, FEV25-75 and ratio FEV1 /FVC, all will reduce with age.
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you have any pneumonia or bronchitis in past?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
With age, lung loses its elasticity.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
With age, lung loses its elasticity. It also loses it stretching capacity.
So lung functions like FEV1, FVC, FEV25-75 and ratio FEV1 /FVC, all will reduce with age.
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you have any pneumonia or bronchitis in past?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Quit smoking 15 years ago. Acute bronchitis 2 as a toddler. Nothing since
Brief Answer:
Do you have allergies?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of anxiety is more in your case.
No need to worry for lung diseases.
I need to know few more things to rule out lung diseases.
1. Do you have allergies?
2. Where do you work?
3. Do you have pets at home?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Do you have allergies?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of anxiety is more in your case.
No need to worry for lung diseases.
I need to know few more things to rule out lung diseases.
1. Do you have allergies?
2. Where do you work?
3. Do you have pets at home?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Since we are on the unlimited, we can continue the questions
I have no allergies
I work in an clean newer corporate office
I have two cats and a dog.
While sitting here in between texts I read an article or two on aging and lung function. That is interesting to read. Does the dead space area they talk about occur in any area. Of lung in general or is it specific to individuals. I can't really tell of dead space but i notice less upper chest expansion as I once did. And using lower lobes I find challenges if I over eat and stomach presses against diaphragm.
Is it true that diaphragm becomes less efficient as we age. And more so if we exercise less. Is the rib cage changes also reflective in aging.
Wow lots happen as we age
I had a nurse in a pulmonologist office pull my file and made comments that it looked fine and I only showed signs of age related changes.
So when we notice these changes from aging and include lack of good exercise the brain can trigger a fright mechanism that can make matters worse.
In your visits with patients daily, is it a strange question to ask for a ct chest scan to look for air spaces while not asking for another pft.
I have no allergies
I work in an clean newer corporate office
I have two cats and a dog.
While sitting here in between texts I read an article or two on aging and lung function. That is interesting to read. Does the dead space area they talk about occur in any area. Of lung in general or is it specific to individuals. I can't really tell of dead space but i notice less upper chest expansion as I once did. And using lower lobes I find challenges if I over eat and stomach presses against diaphragm.
Is it true that diaphragm becomes less efficient as we age. And more so if we exercise less. Is the rib cage changes also reflective in aging.
Wow lots happen as we age
I had a nurse in a pulmonologist office pull my file and made comments that it looked fine and I only showed signs of age related changes.
So when we notice these changes from aging and include lack of good exercise the brain can trigger a fright mechanism that can make matters worse.
In your visits with patients daily, is it a strange question to ask for a ct chest scan to look for air spaces while not asking for another pft.
Brief Answer:
Yes, dead space area do occur in lungs.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having strange but interesting bunch of questions.
Dead space do occur with age. It can occur at any part of lung.
Dead space means, part of lung not contributing to gas exchange. Aging causes reduction in efficient alveoli (gas exchange unit of lungs). This is natural process, we can not halt this.
So with reduction in number of alveoli, dead space can be seen with aging.
Aging also affects musculoskeletal built up of the entire body. So it goes true with ribs, diaphragm and intercostal muscles. And hence respiratory movements can be restricted, power of diaphragm is reduced too.
I don't know exactly about brain and it's fright mechanism. But people with psychological disease tend to age more faster as compare to others.
So please let me know
1. Since how long you are taking anti depressant drugs?
2. Have you checked for cardiac cause for your breathing difficulty?
3. Have you ever undergone VQ (ventilation perfusion) scan? This scan is needed to identify deaf space in lungs. CT will not helpful in this. CT will diagnose air trapping.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes, dead space area do occur in lungs.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having strange but interesting bunch of questions.
Dead space do occur with age. It can occur at any part of lung.
Dead space means, part of lung not contributing to gas exchange. Aging causes reduction in efficient alveoli (gas exchange unit of lungs). This is natural process, we can not halt this.
So with reduction in number of alveoli, dead space can be seen with aging.
Aging also affects musculoskeletal built up of the entire body. So it goes true with ribs, diaphragm and intercostal muscles. And hence respiratory movements can be restricted, power of diaphragm is reduced too.
I don't know exactly about brain and it's fright mechanism. But people with psychological disease tend to age more faster as compare to others.
So please let me know
1. Since how long you are taking anti depressant drugs?
2. Have you checked for cardiac cause for your breathing difficulty?
3. Have you ever undergone VQ (ventilation perfusion) scan? This scan is needed to identify deaf space in lungs. CT will not helpful in this. CT will diagnose air trapping.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
