Common Causes of Difficulty Breathing

3. Cold and Flu

Both upper airway and lung infections, like the common cold and flu, can cause difficulty breathing. The common cold is a viral infection affecting the nose and throat. When people get a cold, they often have a runny nose or nasal or chest congestion, which can cause difficulty breathing.

Influenza or the flu is another virus that affects the nose and throat, but it also attacks the lungs. People with the flu may feel like they have a cold, but these symptoms quickly worsen, leading to shortness of breath, a dry cough, and others that affect the whole body.