Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome back on HCM!

Regarding your concern I would explain that there are many possible causes underlying shortness of breath, including : asthma, a lung disorder, inflammation, pulmonary edema, heart failure, chronic anemia, anxiety, etc..

So, it is important to determine the possible underlying causes.

For this reason, I would first recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests, in order to find the possible cause and proper treatment.

An arterial blood gas analysis coupled with a chest X Ray study and pulmonary function tests are necessary to exclude a lung disorder.

I would also recommend performing a resting ECG, a cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart function and structure, coupled with NT-proBNP levels to exclude possible heart failure, which could mimic this clinical scenario.

Some blood lab tests (complete blood count for anemia, PCR and ESR for inflammation, kidney and liver function tests, blood electrolytes) are also needed to exclude other metabolic causes, which could trigger this symptomatology.

If all the above mentioned tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of your complaints.

I would advice you to discuss with your doctor on the above issues.

Hope to have been helpful!

Wishing all the best,

Dr. Iliri

---