Can allergies cause shortness of breath?

How allergies cause it

When you’re short of breath, it’s hard or uncomfortable to take in the oxygen your body needs, and you may feel as if you’re not getting enough air.² Allergies are one of its causes.² Swelling or narrowing of your throat or airways can leave you short of breath, because your lungs can’t hold as much air when swelling or mucus buildup affects them.¹

NHLBI says asthma is usually a type of allergic reaction, and people who have asthma often have other allergies, such as food or pollen allergies.⁶ In asthma, the airways can become too sensitive and react when you breathe in something that is usually harmless.⁶ When this happens, they swell, narrow and can make more mucus.⁶ Its common triggers include indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold and pet dander, and outdoor allergens such as pollens and mold.⁶ AAFA lists shortness of breath first among the common signs of allergic asthma, along with cough, chest tightness or pain, and wheezing.⁵

A severe allergic reaction can also take your breath away: anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that typically comes on quickly and may cause death.⁹ Its breathing symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, throat tightness, cough and trouble swallowing.⁹ Symptoms usually appear within minutes to a few hours after eating a food, taking a drug or being stung by an insect.⁹

Allergies or something else?

Shortness of breath has many causes besides allergies, including lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia, problems with the trachea or bronchi, heart disease, and anxiety and panic attacks.² Asthma is sometimes hard to diagnose because it can look like other breathing problems, such as emphysema, bronchitis and lower respiratory infections, so allergists use a medical history, a physical exam and tests such as spirometry to tell them apart.¹

A stuffy nose or intense exercise can sometimes cause mild breathing problems, but shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.²

In an NIH comparison of colds, flu and airborne allergies, chest discomfort is rare with allergies, except for people with allergic asthma.¹⁰ Asthma symptoms tend to follow a pattern.⁷ They come and go, can be triggered by exercise, allergies or cold air, and are often worse at night or in the morning.⁷

When to see a doctor

If chest pain or pressure, fainting or nausea comes with shortness of breath, treat it as a medical emergency: call 911 or go to the closest hospital.³ During a possible allergic reaction, seek medical care immediately and call 911 for symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing or throat tightness, especially after eating or an insect sting, and don’t wait to see if they go away on their own.⁹ For a young child with an asthma attack, call 911 if the child has a blue tint to the skin and lips.⁸

If you are suddenly short of breath, contact your healthcare provider right away.³ Your provider will also want to know if shortness of breath comes with chest pain, dizziness, cough, wheezing or lips turning blue, or if it comes on suddenly and happens often.³

If breathing difficulties interfere with your daily activities and lower your quality of life, ACAAI advises seeing an allergist for diagnosis.¹¹ An allergist can also help you recognize the early warning signs of an asthma attack.¹¹