Shortness of breath; Breathlessness; Difficulty breathing;
Dyspnea No standard definition exists for difficulty breathing.
Some people may feel breathless with only mild exercise (for
example, climbing stairs), even though they do not have a
medical condition. Others may have advanced lung disease but
never feel short of breath. Wheezing is one form of breathing
difficulty in which you make a high-pitched sound when you
breathe out. Shortness of breath has many different causes. For
example, heart disease can cause breathlessness if your heart is
unable to pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. If
your brain, muscles, or other body organs do not get enough
oxygen, a sense of breathlessness may occur. Breathing
difficulty may also be due to problems with the lungs, heart,
airways, or other health problems. Sometimes, a small amount of
breathing difficulty may be normal and is not cause for concern.
A very stuffy nose is one example. Strenuous exercise,
especially when you do not exercise often, is an