SHORTNESS
OF BREATH - Introduction
Shortness of breath is probably the most distressing of all symptoms. It is felt when the effort required for breathing is out of proportion to the physical work being done at the time. Some people have to work really hard to breathe, even to the point of becoming quite exhausted.
It can be caused by a whole range of conditions, heart failure, pneumonia, lung clots, asthma and stress to name a few. There are also all grades of breathlessness, from mild symptoms on heavy exertion such as running, to very severe symptoms at rest. To work out why the breathlessness is occurring, a careful history and examination are essential.