Shortness of Breath
Dyspnoea — the uncomfortable awareness of breathing — can reflect cardiac, pulmonary, haematologic or anxiety causes. Lab work focuses on identifying the haematologic and metabolic contributors.
What it means
Shortness of breath (dyspnoea) is the conscious sense of needing more air. It is a non-specific symptom whose causes split broadly between cardiac (heart failure, ischaemia), pulmonary (asthma, COPD, pneumonia, embolism), haematologic (anaemia), metabolic (acidosis, hyperthyroidism) and psychiatric (anxiety, panic). Onset matters — sudden dyspnoea is more likely embolism, pneumothorax or acute heart failure; gradual onset is more likely COPD, anaemia or chronic heart failure.
Common causes
- Anaemia — particularly iron-deficiency anaemia in pre-menopausal women.
- Heart failure — chronic, often with leg swelling, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea.
- Asthma, COPD — wheezing, smoking history, allergic triggers.
- Pulmonary embolism — sudden onset, often with chest pain.
- Pneumonia — fever, cough, sputum production.
- Hyperthyroidism — palpitations, weight loss, heat intolerance.
- Anxiety, panic — diagnoses of exclusion.
Lab work-up approach
Initial panel: CBC (haemoglobin, MCV), ferritin, TSH, comprehensive metabolic, BNP or NT-proBNP, troponin if cardiac concern, D-dimer if embolism concern. Chest X-ray, ECG and sometimes pulmonary function testing supplement the labs. Mediora.AI interprets the haematologic markers in context with the rest of the panel.
Tests Mediora.AI can interpret
Related conditions
When to see a doctor
Sudden severe dyspnoea, especially with chest pain, hypotension or cyanosis, is an emergency. Gradual unexplained dyspnoea worsening over weeks warrants a primary-care visit. Dyspnoea with leg swelling, palpitations, fever or haemoptysis needs prompt evaluation.