Sue, I typed into copilot about shortness of breath and the procedure echocardiogram might reveal: Yes. An echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) can often help determine whether shortness of breath is related to a heart problem and may identify the cause.

An echocardiogram can show:

Heart pumping strength (ejection fraction): A weak heart muscle can cause heart failure, which commonly leads to shortness of breath.
Heart valve problems: Leaky or narrowed valves can make the heart work harder and cause breathlessness.
Heart chamber size and thickness: Enlarged chambers or thickened heart muscle can affect how well the heart pumps and fills.
Diastolic dysfunction: The heart may pump normally but be too stiff to fill properly, causing shortness of breath, especially with exertion.
Pulmonary hypertension: Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs can sometimes be estimated on an echocardiogram.
Fluid-related effects around the heart: A pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart) can sometimes contribute to symptoms.

However, an echocardiogram cannot diagnose every cause of shortness of breath. Breathlessness may also be due to:

Lung diseases (COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis)
Anemia
Deconditioning
Anxiety
Blood clots in the lungs
Medication side effects
Obesity or sleep apnea
So many things can cause it

Sue, that has been my problem since 2016. Three years before I was diagnosed with heart disease. After discussing with my doctor back in 2016 I was sent to a nutritional class. Learned about salt intake, carbs, fats and proteins. So I stopped eating anything with added salt. Still had issues so my primary care doctor sent me to Cardiologist. He noticed my cholesterol needed attention and recommended the new injectable ones. I am currently taking them but not back then as I went Vegan to address Cholesterol. SOB continued. Then the recommendation was a stress test which I flunked. Next step was a heart catherization. Blockages didn't require intervention but stressed on cholesterol medication. Two months later AFIB. Still have shortness of breath. Can't take a deep breath on command. Shallow breathing. Referred to Pulmonologist. Spirometry, lungs are okay. First sleep study no OSA (2020) second sleep study (2024) while wearing my nightguard diagnosed with Obstructive sleep apnea. Got a machine, average less than 1 obstructive event per hour but 6-7 central apneas per hour. Still have SOB. Nuclear Stress test Cardiologist stated Met's 10.1 see you in 5 years. Still SOB. Doctor felt it was medications Beta Blocker. Went off Beta Blocker and placed on anti-arithmetic (dofetilide) medication. Still SOB. Had an ablation, no AFIB for 3 years now, still have SOB. Found out my DDD C4-C5 has stenosis and that may interfere with the Phrenic Nerve which controls your breathing. Neurosurgeon stated it may or may not have any effect. Still have SOB. I won't go into detail about all the other tests dealing with bloodwork. It could be the cause or not. It's Life and so exhausting to keep having so many tests done. Personally, I think it's my heart and something just isn't working there and at my age the best years of my life are way behind me and I am going to not concern myself on it anymore. I'm done with it. Sorry to have rambled. I will continue on with my shallow breathing. I'm breathing and that is a good thing.

Hi Sue, Hope they can find out what it is because I have been down this path for so long. I tend to agree with Caryn it has to be the heart but knowing exactly what is causing it is the mystery. I don't use any COPD medication like albuterol and don't see my Pulmonologist till next year, but all my lung tests have been okay. I just saw my cardiologist this morning and he stated I needed an echocardiogram cause my last one was a few years ago. So will do that next week and see what he has to say. Keep a good thought

Thanks CarynWebb for responding to me. Because this was new for me I ended up going to ER. It was Saturday. They tested for Covid, flu, rsv, chest Xray. EKG , labs, CT angiogram of heart. Echo of heart. Everything came back pretty normal except they said dehydrated and gave me fluids. Thought being dehydrated was strange for me. I see my internal medicine MD on Tuesday(he diagnosed me with heart failure to begin with).