What causes breathing difficulties in people with Parkinson's disease?
Breathing problems in Parkinson's can stem from several causes related to how the disease affects your muscles, coordination, and medication:
Muscle-related causes
- Muscle stiffness can restrict chest muscles and slow their movement, making it harder Show Full Answer
What causes breathing difficulties in people with Parkinson's disease?
Breathing problems in Parkinson's can stem from several causes related to how the disease affects your muscles, coordination, and medication:
Muscle-related causes:
- Muscle stiffness can restrict chest muscles and slow their movement, making it harder for lungs to fully expand
- Hunching over limits lung capacity to take in air
- Involuntary muscle spasms or tremors can cause rapid, shallow, irregular breathing (respiratory dyskinesia)
Swallowing difficulties:
- About 80% of people with Parkinson's experience trouble swallowing, which can lead to aspiration (food or liquid entering the lungs)
- This increases risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication
Medication effects:
- When Parkinson's medication wears off or becomes less effective, shortness of breath can develop
- Levodopa can sometimes cause respiratory dyskinesia, especially at maximum effect
Sleep-related issues:
- Obstructive sleep apnea can occur when Parkinson's affects airway muscles or the brain's ability to direct breathing
Anxiety:
- Uncontrolled anxiety, a common Parkinson's symptom, can trigger shallow breathing and create a cycle of stress and breathing difficulty
The good news is these breathing issues can be managed with medication adjustments, therapy, breathing exercises, and other treatments your healthcare team can recommend.
April 4
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