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Before treatment can be prescribed, the physician will need to know what is causing the shortness of breath. Because people describe shortness of breath in a variety of ways, physicians have developed detailed questionnaires to help narrow the diagnosis. In addition, physicians may run tests that include a chest x-ray (which produces a picture of the general size, shape, and structure of the heart and lungs) and/or an electrocardiogram (which painlessly measures the electrical activity of the heart). Depending on the results of these tests, other tests that may be run include:
- Echocardiogram. A test that uses sound waves to visualize the structures and functions of the heart. A moving image of the patient's beating heart is played on a video screen, where a physician can study the heart's thickness, size and function. The image also shows the motion pattern and structure of the four heart valves, revealing any potential leakage (regurgitation) or narrowing (stenosis). During this test, a Doppler ultrasound may be done to evaluate cardiac blood flow, and intra-cardiac pressure.
- Pulmonary function test. A painless strategy for determining how well the lungs are functioning by measuring how much air the lungs can hold and how fast air can be moved out of the lungs.
Once the cause of the shortness of breath has been determined, then appropriate treatment can begin.
Medications may be prescribed to control symptoms. Also, lifestyle changes (e.g., less strenuous physical activity or weight loss) may help relieve the symptoms of the underlying disorder. The type of treatment will always depend on the cause of the shortness of breath (e.g., a heart or lung disease). | 
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