Does anxiety cause a feeling of suffocation when breathing?

Feeling suffocation during anxiety can be attributed to anxiety itself or to hyperventilation syndrome, both of which can be improved through medication and psychotherapy.

1. Anxiety Disorder: Anxiety refers to a mental state of anxiety experienced by patients in the absence of any physical illness, which can be classified into acute anxiety and chronic anxiety. Patients with anxiety disorder may feel tense. If the symptoms are severe, they may cause physical symptoms such as dyspnea and chest distress, making the patients feel suffocated when anxious. These patients need to take estazolam tablets and buspirone hydrochloride tablets under the guidance of a doctor, along with relaxation therapy and cognitive therapy.

2. Hyperventilation Syndrome: Hyperventilation syndrome is generally caused by mental and psychological factors, often resulting from dysfunction of the respiratory control center. Patients may experience tachypnea, shortness of breath, dyspnea, and irregular respiratory rhythm. In severe cases, chest pain may occur. If patients feel suffocated due to anxiety, it may be caused by hyperventilation syndrome. They need to take paroxetine hydrochloride tablets and alprazolam tablets under the guidance of a doctor for relief.