Also called shortness of breath, uncomfortable breathing, or not getting enough air while breathing.

Common causes include;

1. Asthma; an excessive reaction of the air passage to cold, dust, smoke, fume and other substances
2. Airway or lung infection
3. Injury to the chest
4. Chronic airway disease, common in cigarette smokers
5. Nose blockage e.g. in someone with common cold
6. When foreign body get stuck in the airway, common in small children
7. Heart failure
8. Heart attack
9. Obesity; it make the muscles of the chest stiff, thus the chest does not expand well during breathing
10. Distended tummy e.g. after over-feeding, or when constipated.

What you can do;

1. Sit up in a well-ventilated room
2. Take deep regular breaths with your mouth
3. If previously diagnosed with a lung or heart condition, use your medications e.g. a ventolin inhaler if you are asthmatic.
4. Visit a hospital immediately