What should I do now?
Call 911
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pressure that persists or returns, severe trouble breathing, collapse without normal recovery, or sudden face/arm weakness or trouble speaking. Do not drive yourself.
Contact your care team
Contact your care team promptly for increasing breathlessness, reduced activity, or needing more pillows at night.
Keep your care plan
Track changes and follow your medication and activity plan.
SECTION 3
When should I seek help?
Severe difficulty speaking because you cannot catch your breath also requires emergency help.
Get urgent assessment for a new, concerning change
New breathlessness after surgery, prolonged bed rest, or a long journey may signal a blood clot in the lungs. Coughing up blood or new swelling in one leg makes urgent assessment especially important.
Contact your clinician promptly
- Your usual walking or daily activities are becoming harder.
- You need more pillows to breathe comfortably or wake up gasping.
- You develop swelling in the feet, ankles, or abdomen.
- Your weight rises quickly, especially with known heart failure.
- You have fever, cough, wheezing, or worsening ongoing breathlessness.
Use emergency care if symptoms become severe. Do not wait for a routine appointment when breathing is getting worse.
Sources: Mayo Clinic: When to seek care · NHLBI: Changes to report
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.