| deep, rapid, and labored breathing caused by an increased respiratory drive due to abnormally low blood oxygen levels, as in severe heart failure or asthma. |
| air hunger n. See dyspnea. |
dysp·ne·a  (dĭsp-nē'ə)  n. Difficulty in breathing, often associated with lung or heart disease and resulting in shortness of breath. Also called air hunger. [Latin dyspnoea, from Greek duspnoia : dus-, dys- + pnoiā, -pnoia, breathing; see pneu- in Indo-European roots.] dysp·ne'ic (-nē'ĭk) adj. |