What is the medical term for difficult or painful breathing?

The medical term for difficult or painful breathing is dyspnea. Dyspnea can be an acute or chronic condition and encompasses sensations of breathlessness or discomfort while breathing. It is often associated with various underlying health issues such as respiratory or cardiac conditions, allergies, or obstructions in the airway. Recognizing dyspnea is essential in emergency response, as it can indicate a serious medical condition requiring immediate intervention.

In contrast, aspiration refers to the inhalation of a foreign object or fluid into the lungs, apnea describes a temporary cessation of breathing, and hypoxia indicates a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues. While all these terms are related to respiratory issues, they do not specifically describe the symptom of difficult or painful breathing.