Breathlessness
Getting out of breath more easily than you used to — what can cause it, when to get help straight away, and how a consultant cardiologist can check whether your heart is involved.
Breathlessness is the feeling that you can't get enough air — becoming short of breath with less effort than before, when lying flat, or even at rest.
It has many possible causes, from fitness and weight to the lungs, the blood or the heart. Finding the cause matters, because many are treatable. If breathlessness comes on suddenly or severely, or with chest pain, blue lips or confusion, call 999 — do not wait for a private appointment.
Symptoms of breathlessness.
Breathlessness that builds gradually is worth assessing. Sudden or severe breathlessness is an emergency — call 999.
Why it happens.
Breathlessness can come from the lungs, the heart, the blood or general fitness — and sometimes more than one at once.
Don't wait for it to settle.
Early assessment helps you get the right treatment sooner. See a specialist if:
Finding out whether your heart is involved.
Dr Khalid Khan starts with a full consultation and examination to understand your breathlessness and your cardiovascular risk. An ECG (heart trace), an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) or ambulatory monitoring may be arranged as part of your care. If the cause looks more likely to be in the lungs or elsewhere, he will explain the next step and refer you on where needed. The fee for any test is confirmed at your consultation before you go ahead.
How breathlessness is treated.
Treatment depends on the cause — from lifestyle changes and medication to referral for further investigation.
A full assessment with Dr Khalid Khan of your symptoms, history and heart risk, with a clear explanation and a plan — £250.
Tests chosen for your symptoms and arranged as part of your care. Where a scan is needed, you are referred on — imaging is not available on site. The fee for each test is confirmed at your consultation.
A review of your results and the plan — lifestyle advice, medication where it's needed, or referral for further investigation — £190.
Seen in days — not months on a list.
A named specialist, not a junior — all the way through.
Every price published and confirmed in writing.
Seen privately, without the wait.
We bill major UK insurers directly.
Do I need a referral? +
No — you can book a cardiology consultation directly, without a GP referral. If your breathlessness is sudden or severe, call 999 rather than booking an appointment.
Can you do the tests on the same day? +
Tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram or monitoring are arranged as part of your care, based on what the consultation finds. If you'd like to know what may be possible on the day, please ask when you book and we'll confirm.
Will you write to my GP? +
Yes — with your consent, we write to your GP with the findings and the plan, so your care is joined up.
What does it cost? +
A new-patient consultation with Dr Khalid Khan is £250 (40 minutes) and a follow-up is £190 (20 minutes). The fee for any test is confirmed at your consultation before you go ahead.
Don't put up with it.
Book an assessment with a consultant and get a clear picture — and a plan.