Breathing Difficulty
By Brian Joseph MillerMedically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Breathing difficulty, or shortness of breath, is a frightening but surprisingly common symptom.
Shortness of breath is the distressing sensation that breathing requires more effort than usual. People who experience shortness of breath — also known as dyspnea — describe the sensation as an intense tightening in the chest, so-called “air hunger,†and, at its worst, a feeling of panic and suffocation. Ongoing breathing difficulties may be a sign of an underlying chronic condition, such as heart or lung disease or obesity.
Breathing difficulties are fairly common and can be a part of everyday life for some active people. One-quarter of the population experiences dyspnea, and it is one of the most common reasons that people visit a hospital emergency room.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/breathing-difficulty/guide/
