Definition of Dyspnea

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Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath.

Dyspnea is a sign of serious disease of the airway, lungs, or heart. The onset of dyspnea should not be ignored but is reason to seek medical attention.

The word dyspnea comes the Greek "dys-", difficulty + "pnoia", breathing = difficulty breathing. Dyspnea is the American spelling and dyspnoea is the British (mis)spelling.