What is the medical term meaning breathlessness?

The medical term for breathlessness is dyspnea. Dyspnea is a subjective sensation of difficulty breathing, which can be caused by a variety of underlying medical conditions. It is often described as a feeling of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, or an inability to catch one's breath. Dyspnea can range in severity from mild to life-threatening, and it can be either acute or chronic. Acute dyspnea is typically caused by a sudden onset of a medical condition, such as an asthma attack, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism. Chronic dyspnea is typically caused by a long-term medical condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, or interstitial lung disease.