One symptom of COVID-19 is shortness of breath. A person might feel as if they cannot catch their breath or breathe deeply.

A virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This illness can cause shortness of breath, other respiratory symptoms, and other types of symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, chills, and a sore throat.

COVID-19 cases, including ones where a person does experience shortness of breath, can vary in severity. Some people recover at home, while others experience complications and require more intensive care, with treatments such as oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation.

We also look at how COVID-19 can cause shortness of breath, ways to ease this symptom, and when to seek medical care.

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People experience shortness of breath differently. As experts observe, the sensation is subjective and can range in intensity.

Some people describe feeling always out of breath. Others feel as if they cannot breathe deeply enough or take satisfying breaths.

When it is severe, the issue can cause a person to continually gasp or struggle to catch their breath.

A person may also feel tightness in their chest, especially when trying to inhale or exhale fully.

These symptoms may occur during physical activity, though they can be present during periods of rest, as well.

Shortness of breath, like some other COVID-19 symptoms, occurs because of how the disease affects the lungs.

COVID-19 symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that many people with COVID-19 experience:

Overall, it is important to keep in mind that COVID-19 can present atypically and that the symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.

Normally, the lungs take in oxygen with each breath, and tiny air sacs called alveoli capture this oxygen and transfer it to nearby blood vessels. In this way, oxygen enters the bloodstream and reaches the rest of the body. The alveoli also absorb carbon dioxide from the blood, and this is exhaled.

When SARS-CoV-2 infects lung tissue, it spreads rapidly and may affect the epithelial cells lining the airways. The immune system responds by releasing cells that cause inflammation in the affected tissues.

When this inflammatory immune response continues to happen, it inhibits the regular transfer of gases, including oxygen, in the lungs, and fluid can build up.

These factors combined can make it difficult to breathe.

Not everyone with COVID-19 will experience shortness of breath.

In some cases, once the infection clears, this symptom will also go away. COVID-19 symptoms tend to begin five to six days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and can last between one and 14 days.

But in other cases, shortness of breath can last weeks or months after the initial infection, this is called long COVID. It can affect a person’s ability to complete everyday tasks.

Each person with COVID-19 experiences it differently — and not all breathing issues mean that the disease is serious.

Shortness of breath may be mild, similar to that resulting from a cold or the flu. In this case, it is important to stay home and rest.

Still, a person should not ignore this symptom. Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if shortness of breath is unexpected for the activity a person partakes in or for their current state of health.

If any breathing issue seems serious, especially if it rapidly worsens, seek immediate medical attention.

Emergency treatment

A person may need emergency treatment if they:

  • have trouble breathing
  • feel persistent pressure or pain in the chest
  • have a pale or bluish tint to their lips, face, or nails
  • demonstrate confusion
  • find it difficult to wake up or stay awake

After recovering from the initial infection, some people continue to experience COVID-19 symptoms for weeks or months. This is called long COVID, and it may involve shortness of breath.

In April 2024, the KFF published a report outlining the most recent trends in COVID-19. The organization stated that among 60% of adults in the U.S. who had COVID-19, about one in three reported having had long COVID at some point, and about one in ten reported currently having long COVID (at the time the data was collected).

The extended effects of long COVID are still unclear, and ongoing monitoring, with checkups and blood tests, is key.

Doctors may recommend treatments and therapies to reduce the symptoms. This may include pulmonary rehabilitation and breathing exercises.

The American Lung Association says that doing breathing exercises can help make the lungs work more efficiently. This may help a person with a mild case of COVID-19 that causes shortness of breath.

Here are a few strategies to try:

Pursed-lip breathing

This involves breathing deliberately and slowly. Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips. Aim for each exhale to take at least twice as long as each inhale.

Belly breathing

This involves actively engaging the belly and diaphragm while breathing, and it may help strengthen the diaphragm.

Breathe in through the nose. Try placing the hands on the belly to feel how it extends. Exhale slowly through the mouth, so that the exhalation lasts two to three times as long as the inhalation.

It is best to start practicing belly or pursed-lip breathing when the person can breathe most comfortably, such as while resting.

Lying on the front

Lying in a prone position, on the stomach with the head turned to one side, while resting may help relieve shortness of breath. This position can reduce the weight of the other organs on the lungs and the pressure from gravity, helping the lungs expand.

A prone position may particularly help people who have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is a serious COVID-19 complication. ARDS involves serious issues such as the lungs filling with fluid and difficulty taking in enough oxygen, and it can be life threatening.

A person with severe COVID-19 may need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The latter involves inserting a tube into a person’s windpipe. The tube is connected to a machine called a ventilator that helps the person breathe.

Other treatments aim to help control the infection and address problems involving the blood and the functioning of other organs.

It is important to monitor shortness of breath, as it may be mild initially but become severe and require emergency medical attention.

Severe shortness of breath may be a sign of continuing damage in the lungs. This can lead to ARDS, which requires intensive intervention.

A 2023 study found ARDS occurred in about 32.2% of global COVID-19 cases.

Learn more about ARDS.

COVID-19 is not the only cause of shortness of breath. Other issues that may cause it and similar symptoms include:

Learn more about the causes of shortness of breath.

The virus responsible for COVID-19 can infect the lungs, causing shortness of breath and other symptoms. Shortness of breath associated with COVID-19 can vary in severity and duration.

Shortness of breath can be mild, requiring home care, or severe, requiring treatment in a hospital. If this symptom is serious or suddenly gets worse, seek medical attention right away.