The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity", and recommends evaluating dyspnea by assessing the intensity of its distinct sensations, the degree of distress and discomfort involved, and its burden or impact on the patient's activities of daily living.

The American Thoracic Society defines dyspnea as: A subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity.

Acute shortness of breath is usually connected with sudden physiological changes, such as laryngeal edema, bronchospasm, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or pneumothorax.

Patients with COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a mild onset and gradual progression of dyspnea on exertion, punctuated by acute exacerbations of shortness of breath.

In contrast, most asthmatics do not have daily symptoms, but have intermittent episodes of dyspnea, cough, and chest tightness that are usually associated with specific triggers, such as an upper respiratory tract infection or exposure to allergens.

[2] People that have been infected by COVID-19 may have symptoms such as a fever, dry cough, loss of smell and taste, and in moderate to severe cases, shortness of breath.

[citation needed] Congestive heart failure frequently presents with shortness of breath with exertion, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

[2][15] Risk factors for acute decompensation include high dietary salt intake, medication noncompliance, cardiac ischemia, abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, pulmonary emboli, hypertension, and infections.

[citation needed] Pneumothorax presents typically with pleuritic chest pain of acute onset and shortness of breath not improved with oxygen.

[2] Physical findings may include absent breath sounds on one side of the chest, jugular venous distension, and tracheal deviation.

Treatment, depending on the severity of symptoms, typically starts with anticoagulants; the presence of ominous signs (low blood pressure) may warrant the use of thrombolytic drugs.

In people with advanced cancer, periods with severe shortness of breath may occur, along with a more continuous feeling of breathlessness.

Nonpharmacological interventions that have shown to improve breathlessness include the use of fans, behavioral and psychoeducational strategies, exercise, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pharmacological treatments involve bronchodilators and corticosteroids to address the underlying causes of shortness of breath, as well as opioids or anti-anxiety medications to alleviate symptoms[20].

[21] Other important or common causes of shortness of breath include cardiac tamponade, anaphylaxis, interstitial lung disease, panic attacks,[6][12][17] and pulmonary hypertension.

[6] Interstitial lung disease presents with a gradual onset of shortness of breath typically with a history of predisposing environmental exposure.

[23] Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that generally presents with dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, although multiple organ systems may be affected, with the involvement of sites such as the eyes, the skin, and the joints.

Afferent neurons significant in dyspnea arise from a large number of sources including the carotid bodies, medulla, lungs, and chest wall.

[27] As the brain receives its plentiful supply of afferent information relating to ventilation, it can compare it to the current level of respiration as determined by the efferent signals.

[25] The initial approach to evaluation begins with an assessment of the airway, breathing, and circulation followed by a medical history and physical examination.

[2] Signs and symptoms that represent significant severity include hypotension, hypoxemia, tracheal deviation, altered mental status, unstable dysrhythmia, stridor, intercostal indrawing, cyanosis, tripod positioning, pronounced use of accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoid, scalenes) and absent breath sounds.

[31] Persons with neurological/neuromuscular abnormalities may have breathing difficulties due to weak or paralyzed intercostal, abdominal and/or other muscles needed for ventilation.

[36][37] Fan therapy to the face has been shown to relieve shortness of breath in patients with a variety of advanced illnesses including cancer.

[19] Results of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses found opioids were not necessarily associated with more effectiveness in treatment for patients with advanced cancer.

[25] Acute shortness of breath is the most common reason people requiring palliative care visit an emergency department.

The following collation or list shows the preponderance of how major dictionaries pronounce and transcribe them (less-used variants are omitted): Shortness Of Breath (Dyspnea)StatPearls