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Breathing & Respiratory Issues​

Chest Pain​Many different problems can cause breathing issues and respiratory issues, from infections to allergies. You feel like you can’t draw a full breath. You might wheeze or feel like you’re wearing a vest or sweater that’s too tight. The problem can come on suddenly or develop gradually.

Legacy ER & Urgent Care is a fully equipped Emergency Room and staffed by ER-trained physicians and staff trained to handle and all conditions related to cardiovascular and respiratory challenges a patient may incur.

You should seek treatment if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Chest pain
  • Breathing has slowed significantly or stopped
  • Extreme shortness of breath in the absence of exertion
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Swelling in your legs plus breathing difficulties may be signs of a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
  • A blue tinge to the skin – especially the lips and fingernails
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Low oxygen levels
  • Anytime a child who has a medical history of heart disease or was born prematurely is experiencing difficulty breathing

Also, seek treatment if you or a loved one is experiencing:

  • Frequent episodes of shortness of breath or sudden intense breathing difficulties
  • Shortness of breath that requires you to sit up constantly or wakes you up at night
  • Faster breathing rate or flaring nostrils
  • Wheezing or other strange breathing sounds
  • Constant cough or hoarseness
  • Exhaustion
  • Dizziness or an abnormal heart rate
  • Fever, sore throat, drooling, blue skin, trouble swallowing, chills, and hoarseness may signal epiglottitis, a potentially life-threatening disease.

At Legacy ER & Urgent Care we highly advise that you do not put off calling 911 until later. If it’s serious, you need to seek medical attention immediately. If you are not sure how serious your condition is, visit any of Legacy ER & Urgent Care’s convenient locations.

What Causes Respiratory Issues or Breathing Issues?

Doing Stethoscope​Obesity contributes to breathing issues, as does exertion at high altitudes such as the mountains.

If you have fever, chills, or are coughing up mucus, we advise to call your physician, as these are signs of other illnesses that may require treatment.

Other causes of breathing issues and respiratory issues include allergies, stress, anxiety, and a hiatal hernia.

Be prepared to tell your healthcare provider how long you have had a problem breathing, whether the issue is mild or intense, and if physical exertion makes it worse.

The physician will make a thorough examination and may order blood tests, a chest X-ray, a CT scan, an ECG or EKG, an echocardiogram, and other pulmonary function tests conditional to your state of breathing. Depending on the cause of the breathing difficulties, you may be prescribed medication, counseling (for stress relief), lifestyle changes, or breathing assistance.

Some plants, such as ragweed, mountain cedar, and sagebrush, are worse than others for causing allergies. Allergies are also caused by grass pollen and tree pollen, especially birch, cedar, and oak.

With an ER and urgent care under one roof, you no longer have to decide where to go in your time of need. Visit any one of our full-service ER and Urgent Care locations in Allen, Coppell, Frisco East, Frisco West, North Richland Hills, McKinney, & Prosper, TX . At Legacy we will get you and your loved ones back to feeling better, faster!