Cost over a lifetime [edit]. Say a person lives 78 years [9] , and you take the average cost of living from BLS. Over 78 years, one spends an average of about $1.6 million dollars just to survive. Of this, one spends about $1M on housing, food, and cars ($12683 per year * 78).ost over a lifetime [edit]. Say a person lives 78 years [9] , and you take the average cost of living from BLS. Over 78 years, one spends an average of about $1.6 million dollars just to survive. Of this, one spends about $1M on housing, food, and cars ($12683 per year * 78).
In this case, shortness of breath may be the only warning sign you're having a heart attack. If you or your GP think this is the case, they'll give you aspirin and admit you to hospital straight away. Heart failure can also cause breathing difficulties.
A multitude of conditions can cause shortness of breath. However, the most common causes of severe breathing problems include: 1  Infection of the lungs, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. 2  Asthma. 3  COPD. 4  Heart failure.