Paradoxical breathing, an unconscious cause of shortness of breath

The process of breathing involves moving the diaphragm muscles pressing downward to make the lungs expand allowing air from outside to be inhaled in. However, muscle disorders can make the diaphragm and lungs work the other way around. This condition is called paradoxical breathing or paradoxical breathing. Paradoxical breathing is one of the causes of shortness of breath that you may not be aware of.

What is paradoxical breathing?

According to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry , paradoxical breathing or paradoxical breathing is a respiratory disorder caused by abnormal function of the diaphragm muscle contraction.

Normally, your diaphragm muscles need to press downward so that you can breathe. However, this condition causes the diaphragm muscle to actually push up so that the lungs cannot expand.

As a result, a person experiencing this condition cannot breathe easily to breathe in as much oxygen as their body needs. Paradoxical breathing also causes the body to not be able to excrete as much carbon dioxide as it should. This can cause shortness of breath and various other health problems.

Paradoxical respiratory signs and symptoms

Paradoxical respiratory signs and symptoms are:

Very short breathing
Easy to feel dizzy and weak
Easily sleepy and sleep too long
It is easy to feel tired
Wake up tired
Often wakes up at night
Very fast heart rate
Weakness, fatigue, lethargy, weakness (low physical activity performance)
Breathe very fast
Experiencing a sensation of pain and pressure in the area around the chest and abdomen

What are the causes of shortness of breath typical of paradoxical breathing?

Basically a paradoxical respiratory disorder is caused by a diaphragmatic muscle disorder and is a type of disorder that is difficult to identify.

Even so, there are several health problems that can cause this condition. These conditions can usually be identified after undergoing a diagnosis to find out the cause of shortness of breath.

Several conditions can be the cause of paradoxical breathing, for example:

1. Obstruction sleep apnea

Obstruction sleep apnea (OSA) can be a cause of breathlessness due to paradoxical breathing . This condition is a respiratory disorder during sleep that causes a person to stop breathing or shortness of breath during sleep. This condition interferes with the inlet of oxygen and the outflow of carbon dioxide. Over time, the chest wall can expand inward, not outward.

2. Experiencing trauma or serious injury to the diagframa wall

Having an accident can cause damage to the diaphragm area. Damage such as the ribs and inner chest wall dislodged can cause the diaphragm to stop contracting normally when inhaling air, triggering paradoxical breathing .

3. Nervous disorders

Phrenic nerves are nerves that play a role in regulating the movement of the diaphragm and other muscles in the chest or torso. Damage to the nerves in this area can cause changes in muscle contraction when breathing. This condition is also associated with diseases that damage the nerves in a slow manner such as complications of trauma to the chest, lung cancer, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

4. The respiratory muscles are weakened

Disorders of the muscles that support the respiratory system such as multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's disease can cause shortness of breath as a result paradoxical breathing .

5. Mineral deficiency

Potassium, magnesium and calcium deficiencies can affect breathing patterns through disruption of the central nervous system that regulates the respiratory process.

How to treat and prevent this condition?

Most cases of paradoxical breathing are treated by treating the condition that is causing it. Paradoxical breathing the result of mineral deficiency will improve when the body has adequate mineral intake.

In cases of paradoxical breathing caused by trauma to the chest, surgery may be required to repair loose or damaged ribs and muscle joints. However, in cases caused by chronic disease disorders and neurological disorders, it is likely that the treatment and healing process is more difficult.

Treatment to overcome the symptoms of shortness of breath as a result paradoxical breathing also includes:

Use of breathing aids such as oxygen masks
Use of a tracheotomy to create a new airway
Replace lost electrolytes with intravenous fluids
Perform therapy on sleep apnea disorders
Removes blockages or other foreign objects that cause contraction and obstruction of the airways.

Many of the causes of paradoxical breathing cannot be treated with lifestyle changes. However, these disturbances can be minimized by: