What term describes a patient working harder to breathe?

The term that describes a patient working harder to breathe is dyspnea. Dyspnea is characterized by the subjective experience of breathing discomfort or difficulty. When a patient is experiencing dyspnea, they may exhibit signs such as increased respiratory rate, use of accessory muscles for breathing, and changes in position to facilitate airflow. This condition can arise from various underlying issues, including respiratory diseases, heart problems, or anxiety.

Other terms refer to different respiratory-related conditions. Apnea denotes a complete cessation of breathing for a period of time. Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound typically associated with an obstructed airway, while wheezing is a musical sound produced by airflow through narrowed airways. Each of these terms represents specific respiratory conditions that do not directly indicate the effort involved in breathing like dyspnea does.