Shortness of Breath

Shortness of Breath records reported breathlessness. It is a subjective symptom category, not a breathing-rate measurement, oxygen saturation value or lung-function test.

Apple uses HKCategoryValueSeverity for this type. These are subjective labels, not a calibrated clinical scale. Unspecified is not the same as notPresent, and an unrecorded day is unknown. Do not average the integer codes or interpret their spacing as equal changes in symptom intensity.

Respiratory Rate and Oxygen Saturation describe different measurements. If they were recorded near a symptom report, show their times and sources separately. The severity label cannot be calculated from either measurement, and a reassuring reading does not explain breathlessness or replace assessment of concerning symptoms.

Whether breathlessness occurred at rest, during a usual activity or when lying down can make a history more informative. That setting must be separately reported; a saved interval overlapping a workout or a night does not supply it. The category does not identify a respiratory or cardiac cause.

Call local emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, inability to speak because of breathlessness, a tight or heavy chest, blue or gray lips or skin, or sudden confusion. Seek prompt medical advice for new or worsening breathlessness, including symptoms during normal activities or when lying down. The NHS advises against self-diagnosing its cause. Do not wait for a severe entry or an oxygen alert to act on these symptoms.

These are logged observations, not sensor samples on a fixed schedule. Compare explicit reported labels within a consistent logging routine and keep missing days separate from notPresent reports. Saved intervals and overlapping entries describe the source’s records; they do not establish continuous symptom duration or an exact number of episodes.

This HealthKit type is not listed in the current PulsHealth sync catalog. No corresponding records were found in the selected database research window, so severity frequencies, logging intervals and relationships with other measurements could not be calculated. That database coverage does not establish whether the symptom was experienced or whether reports exist in Apple Health.