What does dyspnea mean

[Dentalmaniac]

I had a treadmill stress echo test last month and just saw the report. Although at the end of the report it says this is a normal stress echocardiogram, in the findings it said indication: Dyspnea. I've read online what dyspnea means and i see that it's shortness of breath. I did not experience that while i was walking on the treadmill and I don't remember if they had the oxygen monitoring device on my finger during the test. How do they measure dyspnea during an echo? and if they did find it, how come the result says normal? Can someone please help answer my question. The only other thing that it said on the test was my ejection fraction during rest echo was 60-65% and it increased to 70-75% after excercise. Thanks so much for your help.

[Dentalmaniac]

Hi Muki, thanks for your response. When you say they can actually measure shortness of breath during a stress test, is that measured throught the ekg? I know that my ekg always gets bad during excercise. I've been told my multiple doctors that that's just how I am wired. Or is the dyspnea measured by something else like the ejection fraction? I am going to see my doctor to discuss the results of the test tomorrow and want as much info as I have before hand so I can ask him the right questions.

[muki123]

They can actually measure shortness of breath during a stress test - that is part of the reason of the test.  You may not notice it but you may have a slight dyspnea or the beginnings of it - daily exercise should fix this especially since the stress reading was in the normal range.  Dyspnea is the indicator of possible future heart disease but can be prevented as you eat health and exercise.