noun
dyspnea
DISP-nee-uh
Dyspnea (noun) means Difficult or laboured breathing; the distressing sensation of not being able to get enough air. Example: “He was admitted with dyspnea and chest tightness.”
noun
1
Difficult or laboured breathing; the distressing sensation of not being able to get enough air.
"He was admitted with dyspnea and chest tightness."
"Dyspnea on exertion is often the first sign patients report."
How to use dyspnea
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIt is the medical word for shortness of breath.
When to use it
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dyspnea on exertion
acute dyspnea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
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He was admitted with _____ and chest tightness.
Etymology
From Greek dyspnoia, difficulty of breathing, from dys-, bad or difficult, and pnoe, breathing.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dyspnea
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of dyspnea?
"dyspnea" (noun) means difficult or laboured breathing; the distressing sensation of not being able to get enough air.
