Word Origin & History. aphorism 1520s (especially in ref. to the Aphorisms of Hippocrates), from M.Fr. aphorisme, from L.L. aphorismus, from Gk. aphorismos definition, pithy sentence, from aphorizein to mark off, divide, from apo- from + horizein to bound..
Further information: List of causes of shortness of breath. While shortness of breath is generally caused by disorders of the cardiac or respiratory system, other systems such as neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrine, hematologic, and psychiatric may be the cause. DiagnosisPro, an online medical expert system, listed 497 distinct causes in October 2010.
Breathing Difficulty Symptoms. Signs of severe breathing difficulty include a rapid respiratory rate, wheezing, rib retractions, nasal flaring, and cyanosis. A person with severe breathing difficulty uses the neck and chest muscles to breathe. In someone with asthma, breathing difficulty occurs with wheezing. In someone with heart disease, difficulty breathing worsens during exercise.