Possible causes of Shortness of breath

59 conditions can cause this symptom. Most common are listed first.

• Asthma Common Pediatric
• Atypical pneumonia (lung infection) Common Urgent Pediatric
• Bronchitis (bronchial tube infection) Common Pediatric
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Common
• Congestive heart failure (CHF) Common Urgent
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) Common Urgent
• Pleural effusion (abnormal chest fluid) Common Urgent
• Pneumonia (lung infection) Common Urgent Pediatric
• Pulmonary edema (abnormal lung fluid) Common Urgent
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot of lung) Common Urgent
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) Urgent Pediatric
• Aortic regurgitation (aortic insufficiency)
• Broken heart syndrome (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) Urgent
• Bronchiolitis (bronchial tube inflammation) Pediatric
• Endocarditis (heart valve infection) Urgent
• Lung abscess (collection of pus) Urgent
• Lung cancer (tumor)
• Mitral regurgitation
• Mitral stenosis
• Q fever Urgent
• Valvular heart disease
• Allergic reaction Urgent
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Anxiety disorder
• Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) Urgent
• Ascites Urgent
• Aspiration pneumonia Urgent
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rate) Urgent
• Bradycardia (slow heart rate) Urgent
• Bronchiectasis (bronchial tube inflammation destruction) Urgent
• Cardiomyopathy (weakened heart) Urgent
• Congenital heart disease (heart defect at birth) Urgent
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) Urgent
• Emphysema
• Fat embolism
• Foreign body in the respiratory tract Urgent Pediatric
• Heat exhaustion
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heart disease) Urgent
• Hyperventilation (rapid breathing)
• Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) Urgent
• Influenza (seasonal flu)
• Loffler's syndrome (pulmonary eosinophilia)
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Obesity
• Panic disorder
• Pharyngitis (throat infection)
• Pneumothorax (collapse of lung) Urgent
• Pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring)
• Renal failure, chronic (kidney failure)
• Sarcoidosis (sarcoid)
• Sepsis (severe infection) Urgent
• Sinusitis (sinus infection)
• Sleep apnea
• Smoke inhalation Urgent
• Stress
• Tonsillitis (tonsil infection)
• Unstable angina (pre heart attack chest pain) Urgent
• Upper respiratory tract infection (URI)
• Viral infections