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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Dyspnea - First Aid for Difficulty Breathing

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

A person who has difficulty breathing is having trouble moving air in or out of the lungs. This can be the result of an airway obstruction, disease, severe allergic reaction, injury, or other medical condition.

What are the causes and risks of the injury?

The causes of difficulty breathing can vary. Causes can be associated with medical diseases and conditions that narrow the airways, such as:

emphysema, a chronic lung disease in which the air sacs are destroyed, seen mostly in smokers

chronic bronchitis, a chronic lung disease also seen in smokers, that is marked by persistent coughing up of sputum from the lungs

asthma, a lung disease in which the overly-sensitive airways become narrowed in response to various triggers

Other causes of difficulty breathing include:

crush injuries to the chest or airways, such as those resulting from a motor vehicle accident or a sports injury

pneumothorax, or collapsed lung

congestive heart failure, a condition in which the weakened heart is unable to pump enough blood to body organs

heart disease, and abnormalities in any of the heart valves

adjustment to a high altitude

an obstruction in the airway, as in the case of a person who is choking

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