dyspnea
4 synonyms for dyspnea, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Difficult or laboured breathing; the distressing sensation of not being able to get enough air.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dyspnea
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dyspnea on exertion
acute dyspnea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Medical vocabulary; in conversation with patients, clinicians normally say shortness of breath. Dyspnea is the American spelling and dyspnoea the British one. Related terms specify the pattern: orthopnea when lying flat, and exertional dyspnea during activity.
Etymology
From Greek dyspnoia, difficulty of breathing, from dys-, bad or difficult, and pnoe, breathing.
Full origin of dyspnea →Frequently asked questions
Is dyspnea the same as shortness of breath?
Yes, they describe the same experience. Dyspnea is the clinical term used in notes and research, while shortness of breath is the everyday phrase used with patients.
What is the difference between dyspnea and apnoea?
Dyspnea is breathing that is difficult or uncomfortable but still happening. Apnoea is a pause in breathing altogether, most often discussed as sleep apnoea where breathing stops repeatedly during the night.
What causes dyspnea?
Common causes include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, heart failure, anaemia, anxiety and simple deconditioning. Sudden or severe breathlessness, especially with chest pain, needs urgent medical assessment.
