Sesak nafas (shortness of breath) is often caused by something common such as asthma, a chest infection, being overweight, smoking or a panic attack, but it can sometimes be a sign of a serious heart or lung problem. Call 999 if you are gasping or cannot get words out, your chest feels tight or heavy, pain spreads to your arm, neck or jaw, your lips or skin turn blue or grey, or you feel suddenly confused. See a doctor if breathlessness is new, getting worse, happens when you lie down, or comes with swollen ankles or a cough lasting 3 weeks or more. Once the cause is known, breathing techniques such as pursed-lips breathing can help you cope.
This guide explains the possible causes and links to our detailed guides for each condition.
When is sesak nafas an emergency?
According to the NHS, call 999 or go to the emergency department if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing: you are gasping, choking or not able to get words out;
- your chest feels tight or heavy;
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw;
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey (on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms);
- you feel suddenly confused.
For a child, call 999 if they have difficulty breathing (they may make grunting noises or suck their stomach in under the ribcage), have pale, blue or grey lips or skin, are suddenly confused or agitated, or are limp, floppy or not responding as usual.
Do not drive yourself. These can be signs of a heart attack, a severe asthma attack or another emergency; see our guides to serangan jantung and asma.
When to see a doctor
According to the NHS, get urgent medical advice if:
- you are more short of breath than usual;
- you feel sick or are being sick;
- you are coughing up blood;
- you have pain or swelling in one leg;
- you have palpitations (your heart feels like it is racing, skipping or fluttering).
See a doctor (at a klinik kesihatan or a GP) if:
- your breathlessness gets worse during normal activities, or when you lie down;
- you feel short of breath and have swollen ankles;
- you have been coughing for 3 weeks or more.
The NHS stresses that you are not wasting anyone's time by getting breathlessness checked.
Punca sesak nafas: common causes
According to the NHS, shortness of breath has many causes. Do not try to self-diagnose; this table only gives clues.
| Possible cause | Clues | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | Wheezing, cough, tight chest; comes and goes, often worse at night or with triggers like haze, dust or exercise | Asma |
| Chest infection or pneumonia | Chesty cough with yellow or green mucus, fever, chest pain when breathing in | Radang paru-paru |
| Panic attack or anxiety | Racing heart, sweating, trembling, a choking feeling, fear; often 5 to 20 minutes | See below |
| Being overweight | Breathlessness with everyday activity | — |
| Smoking | Often with a cough that does not go away | — |
| Anaemia (kurang darah) | Tiredness, pale skin, breathlessness, palpitations | Kurang darah |
| COPD | Breathless when active, persistent chesty cough with phlegm, wheezing; mainly in middle-aged or older smokers | — |
| Heart failure | Breathless with everyday activity or lying down, swollen ankles, sudden weight gain, cough at night | Kaki bengkak |
| Heart attack | Chest pain or tightness, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, sweating (call 999) | Serangan jantung |
| Blood clot in the lungs | Sudden breathlessness, chest pain on breathing in, coughing up blood, a painful swollen leg (call 999) | Sakit dada |
Sources: NHS pages on shortness of breath, heart failure, COPD, pulmonary embolism and panic disorder. Other serious causes listed by the NHS include scarring of the lungs (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) and lung cancer. A cough lasting 3 weeks or more should also be checked for tibi (TB).
Sesak nafas tiba-tiba: sudden breathlessness
Breathlessness that comes on suddenly needs prompt attention. According to the NHS:
- a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) can cause difficulty breathing that comes on suddenly, chest pain that is worse when you breathe in, and coughing up blood, sometimes with pain and swelling in one calf; call 999 if breathing is very difficult;
- a heart attack can cause breathlessness with chest pain, sweating and feeling sick;
- a severe asthma attack can make it hard to speak or breathe;
- a panic attack can also come on suddenly, but it is safest to get checked if you are unsure.
See our guide to sakit dada for chest pain warning signs.
Breathless when lying down or with swollen ankles
According to the NHS, heart failure is when the heart cannot pump blood properly. Its symptoms include feeling out of breath during everyday activities or when lying down, swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or tummy, sudden weight gain, feeling very tired or light-headed, and coughing at night. Ask for an urgent appointment if you feel breathless when lying down or from everyday activity, cough up frothy pink phlegm, or suddenly gain weight. See our guide to kaki bengkak for other causes of swollen ankles.
Sesak nafas and anxiety
The NHS lists a panic attack as a common cause of shortness of breath. Panic attacks can also cause a racing heartbeat, sweating, trembling, chest pain, a choking sensation and a fear of dying, and most last 5 to 20 minutes. They are frightening but not dangerous.
The NHS suggests a simple breathing exercise for stress, anxiety and panic: breathe gently into your belly, in through your nose and out through your mouth, counting from 1 to 5 on each breath if it helps, for at least 5 minutes. Practising it regularly gives the most benefit. If you are not sure whether your symptoms are anxiety or your heart or lungs, get medical help.
Sesak nafas during the haze
Air pollution can make breathing problems worse, especially if you have asthma or a lung condition. During the haze (jerebu):
- stay indoors when you can;
- keep any prescribed inhaler with you and follow your asthma action plan;
- get medical help if your breathing does not improve or gets worse.
See our haze survival guide for practical tips, including masks and indoor air.
Petua hilangkan sesak nafas: breathing techniques
If a doctor has checked your breathlessness and you know the cause, breathing techniques can help you feel more in control. Asthma + Lung UK, a UK lung charity, suggests:
- Relaxed (tummy) breathing: sit comfortably with one hand on your chest and one on your tummy; breathe in slowly through your nose so your tummy moves out and your chest hardly moves, then breathe out through your mouth. Try to make your out-breath longer than your in-breath.
- Pursed-lips breathing: breathe in gently through your nose, then breathe out through pursed lips as if blowing out a candle, for as long as is comfortable, without forcing.
- Blow as you go: breathe in before an effort, such as lifting a bag, and breathe out while you do it.
- Recovery positions: sit and lean forward with your elbows resting on your knees, or lean back or sideways against a wall.
- Stay active: moving less weakens your muscles, which can make breathing harder.
These techniques do not replace medical treatment. Sudden or severe breathlessness needs emergency help.
Ubat sesak nafas: treatment depends on the cause
There is no single ubat sesak nafas. According to the NHS, treatment depends on what is causing your symptoms. For example:
- asthma is treated with inhalers (see asma);
- a bacterial chest infection or pneumonia may need antibiotics;
- anaemia may need iron or treatment of the cause;
- heart failure and COPD need long-term treatment and follow-up;
- stopping smoking and keeping to a healthy weight can help many causes.
Do not use someone else's inhaler or medicine. See a doctor to find the cause.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What causes sesak nafas (shortness of breath)?
According to the NHS, common causes include asthma, a chest infection, being overweight, smoking and a panic attack. Sometimes it can be a sign of something more serious, such as COPD, scarring of the lungs, heart failure or lung cancer. Anaemia, a blood clot in the lungs and a heart attack can also cause breathlessness.
When is shortness of breath an emergency?
Call 999 if you have severe difficulty breathing (gasping, choking or unable to get words out), your chest feels tight or heavy, pain spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw, your lips or skin turn very pale, blue or grey, or you feel suddenly confused. For a child, call 999 if they are struggling to breathe, grunting, sucking in under the ribs, or are limp or unresponsive.
What is a petua to relieve sesak nafas?
If a doctor has checked your breathlessness and you know the cause, breathing techniques can help. Asthma + Lung UK suggests relaxed tummy breathing, pursed-lips breathing (breathing out slowly as if blowing out a candle), and resting positions such as sitting and leaning forward with your elbows on your knees. These do not replace medical care, and sudden or severe breathlessness needs emergency help.
Can anxiety cause sesak nafas?
Yes. The NHS lists a panic attack as a common cause of shortness of breath, and panic attacks can also cause a racing heart, chest pain, sweating and a choking feeling. A slow breathing exercise can help. But because these symptoms can also be caused by heart or lung problems, get medical help if you are not sure.
Why do I feel breathless when lying down?
Breathlessness that is worse when you lie down, or during everyday activities, can be a sign of heart failure, especially if you also have swollen ankles, sudden weight gain or a cough at night. The NHS advises an urgent appointment with a doctor if you feel breathless when lying down.
What is the best ubat for sesak nafas?
There is no single medicine, because treatment depends on the cause. For example, asthma is treated with inhalers, a bacterial chest infection may need antibiotics, and anaemia may need iron. Do not use someone else's inhaler or medicine; see a doctor to find the cause.
Can haze cause shortness of breath?
Air pollution can make breathing problems worse, especially for people with asthma or COPD. During haze, stay indoors when you can, keep any prescribed inhaler with you, and get medical help if your breathing does not improve or gets worse.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. In an emergency in Malaysia, call 999. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
