Chest/breathing problem - can anyone advise?

[Debs334]

For the last two weeks I've been feeling slightly short of breath (not gasping for air) just feels a bit harder work to take a breath sometimes, my chest feels heavy. I'm not asthmatic, don't have a cough or cold. I am very tired (who isn't?!). I have had panic attacks in the past (8yrs ago, none since) and the chest feeling is a bit similar to that although I haven't had any attacks and am not stressed so I don't think it is that.

I feel it's not bad enough to visit the GP (I have a been a couple of times in the last few months - nasty insect bite and labyrinthitis) and I don't want to waste their time.

Anybody had anything similar - have any suggestions?

I would make an appointment.

You might be anaemic. You could have asthma. Either way it's worth getting checked over.

You won't be wasting the gps time.

Just a thought -I am asthmatic and sometimes I get into what I can only describe as a poor breathing 'habit'.I find butyeko breathing exercises help immensely.Might be worth looking up?

Thanks for the replies.

Don't think I am anaemic as I gave blood a couple of weeks ago. I was borderline on their test for iron (nurse said) but just scraped through!

Going to google butyeko - thanks :-)!

Up your intake of leafy greens, oj etc as well then.
Can't hurt to improve your iron levels!

I assume you don't smoke?

Could it be hayfever or exposure to another allergen (eg black mould) ?

No, not a smoker. I don't think it is hayfever as I've hardly had any this year and I do it's sneezing! Would I know if we had something like black mould in our house? There's certainly no visible mould anywhere.
I will up the greens intake though, good idea!

It's not a waste of time to see the GP. It's the sensible thing to do - it's not like the AA where you have to pay after three callouts, thank goodness. Better to go now than be worse and need more extensive treatment later. Have you thought of asking for an appointment with the practice nurse? They usually do my asthma checks so would be in a good position to assess your breathing.

Asthma can come on in adulthood - mine did - and I would definitely check on that and on your iron. The thing about being 'borderline' is that you will go down, not up, unless you do something, so I would work on increasing your iron intake. Anaemia made me very three, breathless and diminished my appetite. Are you very pale?

HA! I know, I just hate being a pain. I saw one of the GPs a few years ago with a nasty bout of tonsillitis. He said 'you're probably one of the only genuinely ill people I'll see today'

I was quite anaemic in spring last year (no reason found) and ended up having an iron infusion. I really hope that hasn't happened again

Please go to the doctor!