Symptoms of Dyspnea
Dyspnea can cause various symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Chronic dyspnea symptoms tend to occur gradually and may worsen over time.2 Hashmi MF, Modi P, Basit H, et al. Dyspnea. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Acute dyspnea comes on suddenly, and you may feel agitated and frightened while experiencing shortness of breath. Common dyspnea symptoms include:4 Feeling like you can't breathe fast enough or deeply enough Rapid breathing Shallow breathing Feeling winded or out of breath with minimal exertion Chest tightness Dyspnea symptoms that warrant medical attention include:35 Sudden shortness of breath Shortness of breath during rest Bluish-colored lips or fingernails Chest pain Swelling in ankles or feet Heart palpitations Confusion or altered mental state Fainting Nausea Unusually excessive sweating or cold sweats Fever