What causes exhaustion and shortness of breath?

Posted on Fri, 13 May 2016

Question: I have be tired for the past week. I am always out of breath. i get 4 1/2 hours a sleep a night even if I get 8 hours after taking a sleeping pill, I am still exsauted weight 160 have not lost a pound in a year eat about a 1200 calories a day am always thisty. eat healthy. Can't stay awake. I was just trying to put on my jeans had to sit down because I was out of breath what the heak is going on. Went to the doctor he said I was fine. I am so tired of feeling this way it has been months sinces I have felt ok I just want to feel normal again I want to wake up and feel good I can't do this anymore I hate waking up tired.

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained in detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome

Your concern is appreciated

Feeling of tiredness and shortness of breath first may ne due to many reasons eg
Poor diet and not having enough sleep all can be held responsible for your tiredmess.
Anemia which can be due to many pathologies but most common is due to iron deficiency
Diabetes can also give you feeling of tiredness
Heart conditions including Congestive cardiac failure makes people breathless and tire and many other cardiomyopathies
Chronic bronchitis, emphysema can give breathlesness
Hypothyroidism
Sleep apnea
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Depression anxiety
Restless legs syndrome
Life style related causes are Alcohol, drugs and lack of exercise , work place stress, emotional concerns, poor diet, lack of sleep and other sleep distubances, individual factors like personal injury or illness or in the family, too many comimitments and financial problems can lead to fatigue

You should do blood tests like hb ,blood sugar test, TFTs, LFTs, RFTs
U/S abdomen ECG
Psychiatric consultation if organic cause is excluded
Take good sleep and balanced diet with regular exercise.

Hope it helps
Thanks

please consult your doctor before taking any further course of action

Wishing you best of health

Dr M.S Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar