What does dyspnea refer to?

Dyspnea refers to shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. It is a common symptom experienced during physical activities, at rest, or due to various medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, or anxiety disorders. Understanding dyspnea is essential for exercise physiologists, as it can affect an individual's exercise capacity and performance. Assessing and managing dyspnea in clients is crucial for ensuring safety and tailoring appropriate exercise prescriptions, providing guidance on how to monitor breathing patterns, and recognizing when individuals may need to pause or stop exercise to prevent potential complications. Other terms like chest pain, nausea, and dizziness, while they may also indicate health issues during physical activity, do not specifically define the experience of shortness of breath like dyspnea does.