Hearing the stress in someone's breathing?

Question

If someone witnessed me having an asthma attack and told me that she could hear the "stress" in my breathing, what does that mean?

Answer 1

Stress is not really the word to use in this instance.  What she is hearing and perceiving is your increased effort to breathe, the difficulty in doing so, and the wheezing which is associated with the constriction of your bronchial tubes.

I would say a better description would be you were have labored breathing or difficulty breathing, or in technical terms dyspnea with wheezing.

Answer 2

You aren't relaxed...your voice sounds strained.  Not relaxed and casual.  It is tightened up due to the restriction in the throat.