Chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness on one side, a fit or heavy bleeding needs help now, not an appointment.

112Any emergency108Ambulance102Pregnancy and newborn
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Chest, heart and lungs

Breathlessness

Also called breathlessness, shortness of breath, saans phulna, saans lene me dikkat, difficulty breathing

What it meansSafe at homeDo not doSee a doctorWarning signs
This can be a medical emergency. If it is happening right now, call 112 or 108, or get to the nearest hospital. Do not wait for an appointment and do not drive yourself.

What this means

Breathlessness means difficulty breathing or feeling short of breath. It can come from the lungs, the heart, anxiety or anemia. Sudden or severe breathlessness needs urgent care.

Safe to do at home

  • Sit upright and try to stay calm
  • Use your prescribed inhaler if you have asthma and it is a known flare
  • Loosen tight clothing and get fresh air
  • Pace activities and rest when needed

Please do not do this alone

  • Do not ignore new or worsening breathlessness
  • Do not use someone else's inhaler or oxygen
  • Do not lie flat if it makes breathing harder

Book a consultation if

  • You get breathless more easily than before
  • Breathlessness comes with a long cough or wheeze
  • It disturbs your sleep or daily activity

Get help immediately if

  • Sudden or severe difficulty breathing
  • Breathlessness with chest pain or blue lips or fingertips
  • Unable to speak full sentences due to breathlessness

The right doctor for this

Pulmonologist (Chest Specialist)

This is the specialist who sees this symptom most often and can examine you properly. If you are not sure, a general physician is always a safe place to start and will refer you onward if you need it.

Consult a Pulmonologist (Chest Specialist)Start with a General Physician

Get care for this

Doctors and care for breathlessness

Verified Teleprac doctors you can see online or in a clinic, lab tests with home sample collection, and genuine medicines delivered to your door.

Lab tests at home

Book online, a trained phlebotomist collects the sample at home.

See all lungs tests
See all symptoms

How to use this page. It explains what a symptom usually means, so that you can decide whether to watch it, book a consultation or get help now. It does not diagnose you, it does not know your age, your pregnancy or your other medicines, and it cannot replace being examined. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own.

Consult a doctorPulmonologist Book a test

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Emergency numbers in India

Save these in your phone now, not when you need them. Tap any number to call it.

112Any emergencyOne number for police, fire and ambulance across India108AmbulanceFree emergency ambulance in most states and union territories102Pregnancy and newbornAmbulance for mothers and babies in most states14416Mental health supportTele MANAS, free counselling every hour of the day, many languages1800 116 117Poisoning or overdoseNational Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS New Delhi1098Child in distressChildline India, free and confidential

Where to read more

Public health sources written for patients rather than for doctors, and kept up to date.

Ministry of Health and Family WelfareOfficial Indian health programmes, advisories and public guidanceWorld Health Organization health topicsGlobal fact sheets written for the public, on hundreds of topicsNHS health A to ZPlain language pages on symptoms, conditions, tests and treatmentsMedlinePlusPatient information from the United States National Library of MedicineTele MANASIndia's national mental health support service, free and available all day

Important: Everything in Teleprac patient resources is general health education. It does not give you a diagnosis and it cannot replace examination by a qualified doctor, because it does not know your age, your reports, your pregnancy or the other medicines you take. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own. Teleprac Healthcare is not liable for decisions made on the basis of this information. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital immediately.