Summary
Shortness of breath, medically known as dyspnea is a common health problem. It refers to a variety of perceptions experienced by a person, and some of the experiences are influenced by the person's emotional state. Since there is a wide range of causes that can lead to a shortness of breath, this makes the diagnosis of the exact cause a challenge. A rapid evaluation and diagnosis are critical to ensuring effective management. Sometimes, diagnosing the exact cause of dyspnea is very difficult to establish if there is more than one underlying disease. The various factors that can cause breathlessness include lung and heart disease, pneumonia, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome and other conditions like anaemia, obesity and mental disorders.