Hi I am 25 years old and a casual smoker. For the past 2 years I have felt out of breath and as if my throat is tightening up. I feel as if I can't exhale. Also, when I inhale I feel as if the oxygen doesn't go to my lungs but to by stomach. My nose is congested and I am yawning a lot too.

I know you guys are going to say smoking is the cause of my problems but I never smoked more than two packs a week and have always done exercise(running and lifting).
When I run I gasp for air as well but am still able to finish the workout. I run at least 15 miles a week.

I like to smoke but don't want to jeopordize my health.

Has anyone experienced this?? or can give me any advice

Smokeing is bad and can affect people in different ways-I can't say this is only caused by smoking though-but I do know what it's like not to be able to breath and it's scarey-if I were you I would get it checked out.
God Bless.

Hello, I'm 21 and have had similar problems. I have a feeling like I can never quite catch my breath - as if I need to take a big yawn all the time - its really annoying! I've been like this for about 3 years now. I smoked also, but no more than 2 a day (accept weekends when partying) - I have now quite for about 3 months . I don't think quiting has changed it much accept I feel more energetic now and good about myself.
These are some ideas for what may be causing your problem:
Asthma of some form, I was sure I had no asthma but after having extensive pulmonary function testing I was told I do have mild asthma.

Hyperventilation syndrome, this is where you get in the habbit of breathing more than you should - and the changes which occur to your blood gases (O2, CO2) cause you to feel breathless and yawn alot + other symptoms. Its apparently really easy to overbreath - mouth breathing is the quickest way to over breath (you mentioned you had a stuffy nose).

Also try cutting out sugars and simple carbohydrates - apparently these displace O2 from the blood. (this is what I'm trying currently)

Most importantly you should see a doctor to rule out any thing major.

Good luck! write to me if you like!

Justine
New Zealand

I would get this checked out by a doctor.

It could be any number of things, including asthma.

Take care.

Shauna

the same thing happend to me.
i work out on a daily basis.
i started smoking clove ciggarettes about once a day.
i didnt notice a thing until about 2 months after i had been smoking them.
one day i was working out and it just hit me, i had a really hard time breathing.
well i decided that nothing was going to get in the way of my health, so i quit and everything was normal again about 3 weeks later.

so i guess either quit, or start working out twice as much.

good luck!

Hi,
Even though smoking may not be the problem, it could ONLY HELP by quitting. And smoking even a few cigarettes does damage.
Take care,
Lori

I recently had a collapsed lung and I am trying to quit smoking. I don't have the urges at home but I know that when I go to work it will be very hard not to smoke. I am 19 and also go to school and most of my friends smoke. Trying to quit will almost be impossible and I am already loosing the battle as I decided to be an occasional smoker. Meaning at work and sometimes when I go out. It is too damn hard

For any of you experiencing shortness of breath, it could be nothing or it could be asthma, emphysemia or chronic bronchitis. If you smolke & quote then feel better, good luck. If not, see a pulmonologist & ask for a pulmonary function test. Early diagnosis of anything is imperative. Take it from the voice of experience....been there, done that.




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