Re: Shortness of breath - what could cause it?

I would change the focus to treat nutritional deficiencies before trying to attack an intruder. You may be overloading you detoxification pathways as you struggle to eliminate any infection you might have but do not have the nutrients required for proper detoxification and immune activity.

I can almost guarantee you are critically low in several aminoacids. Many studies (metametrix as an example) show a direct correlation between aminoacid deficiency and fatigue/anxiety.

Aminoacid defiency and mal utilization is likely due to improper diet and weakened digestion - specifically protein metabolism. Lack of stomach acid (whether by nutritional deficiencies or abuse of antacid/ppis) compromises protein breakdown and subsequent absorption of aminoacids. Protein waste creates a hostile environment in the digestive track and allow opportunistic pathogens to thrive.
Mineral absorption is also affected by a abnormal digestion/lack of digestive juices.
Aminoacids are utilized to make the hormones that regulate your wellbeing. Fatigue/anxiety are clues that the sources of AA utilization like adrenals and thyroid are being affected.

My personal experience showed me a lack of several aminoacids (urine panel test), specifically tryptophan, phenylalanine, lysine, tyrosine. Tryptophan, phenylanine, tyrosine are necessary for hormone production and certainly my anxiety/fatigue showed a deficiency in them. Low lysine indicates a struggling immune system which allows infection to take place (EBV virus).Just about all other aminoacids were also low in me.
This comes from a chronic lack of stomach acid which was settled 5 years ago after wrongly using heartburn drugs and nutrient deficient diet.

Most Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome patients see an improvement in symptoms by taking customized AA formula. Tryptophan or 5-HTP stops anxiety, shortness of breath on its tracks. However, an improvement in digestion is needed to permanently resolve chronic nutritional deficiencies - B-vitamins and minerals like calcium zinc phosphorus iron are critical for energy utilization and a depletion in these will trigger a wide variety of symptoms.

Personally I would get a AA test/AA formula and necessary cofactors for a quick improvement while strengthening your digestion via ACIDIFYING the track (lactic acid producing probiotics, HCl) and digestive enzymes. This will cleanse the GI track of waste and pathogens and allow absorption of the food you eat.

Mike