Shortness of Breath and Headaches: Seek Medical Care Immediately

Dyspnea + Headache = Potential Emergency

This combination can signal serious conditions: pulmonary embolism, heart failure, severe anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, hypertensive crisis, intracranial pathology, or severe asthma/COPD exacerbation.

Immediate Steps While Seeking Care

1. Call 911 or go to ER if sudden, severe, or accompanied by chest pain, fainting, confusion, bluish lips.
2. Sit upright; loosen tight clothing.
3. Use prescribed rescue inhaler if asthmatic.
4. If CO exposure suspected, get to fresh air immediately.

Do Not

• Drive yourself.
• Ignore symptoms hoping they’ll pass.
• Self-medicate without evaluation.

Prompt professional assessment is critical—delay can be fatal.