| History |
| Dyspnea on exertion | Cardiac or pulmonary disease, deconditioning |
| Dyspnea during rest | Severe cardiopulmonary disease or noncardiopulmonary disease (e.g., acidosis) |
| Orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, edema | Congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Medications | Beta blockers may exacerbate bronchospasm or limit exercise tolerance. Pulmonary fibrosis is a rare side effect of some medications |
| Smoking | Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma |
| Allergies, wheezing, family history of asthma | Asthma |
| Coronary artery disease | Dyspnea as anginal equivalent |
| High blood pressure | Left ventricular hypertrophy, congestive heart failure |
| Anxiety | Hyperventilation, panic attack |
| Lightheadedness, tingling in fingers and perioral area | Hyperventilation |
| Recent trauma | Pneumothorax, chest-wall pain limiting respiration |
| Occupational exposure to dust, asbestos or volatile chemicals | Interstitial lung disease |
| Physical examination |
| Anxiety | Anxiety disorder |
| Nasal polyp, septal deviation | Dyspnea due to nasal obstruction |
| Postnasal discharge | Allergies/asthma |
| Jugular vein distention | Congestive heart failure |
| Decreased pulse or bruits | Peripheral vascular disease with concomitant coronary artery disease |
| Increased anteroposterior chest diameter | Emphysema |
| Wheezing | Asthma, pulmonary edema |
| Rales | Alveolar fluid (edema, infection, etc.) |
| Tachycardia | Anemia, hypoxia, heart failure, hyperthyroidism |
| S3 | Congestive heart failure |
| Murmur | Valvular dysfunction |
| Hepatomegaly, hepatojugular reflux, edema | Congestive heart failure |
| Cyanosis, clubbing | Chronic severe hypoxemia |