Wheezing

Shortness of Breath

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3. Shortness of Breath

Medically known as dyspnea, shortness of breath is a frightening symptom because it when you are unable to get enough air it can feel like you are suffocating. Although it can be felt in various situations, like during strenuous exercise, when it is very cold or very hot, or at high altitude, shortness of breath usually involves an underlying medical condition like asthma, pneumonia or heart diseases.

During an asthma attack, the shortness of breath can be severe enough to cause intense anxiety and make a person instinctively sit upright and lean forward to be able to better breathe. Sweating and fatigue are also common because of the effort of breathing.

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