*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature M: MRSA.

Shortness Of Breath

Shortness of breath might not be anything to worry about, but sometimes it can be serious and you'll need to get medical help.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:

you have severe difficulty breathing - you're 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 of the hands
you feel suddenly confused

has difficulty breathing - they may make grunting noises or suck their stomach in under their ribcage
has lips or skin that are turning very pale, blue or grey - on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands
is suddenly confused (agitated, behaving oddly or crying constantly)
is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do - their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face

you have difficulty breathing - you may be more short of breath than usual
you feel sick or are being sick
you're coughing up blood
you have pain or swelling in 1 of your legs
you have heart palpitations - this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest

your shortness of breath gets worse when you've been doing your normal activities, or when you lie down
you feel short of breath and have swollen ankles
you've been coughing for 3 weeks or more

It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious. You're not wasting anyone's time by getting it checked out.

Shortness of breath has lots of different causes.

Common causes include:

But sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious, such as:

Any treatment you may need depends on what's causing your symptoms.

Do not try to self-diagnose the cause of shortness of breath - always see a GP.

If you know what's causing your shortness of breath, you can get advice about things you and other people can do to help.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature M: MRSA. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.