Which level on the Borg dyspnea scale indicates severe breathlessness?

The Borg dyspnea scale is a subjective measure used to assess an individual’s perception of breathlessness during physical activity. It typically ranges from 0 to 10, with each number correlating to a specific level of breathlessness.

The rating of 5 on the Borg dyspnea scale is classified as "somewhat severe." This indicates a noticeable but not overwhelming level of breathlessness, where the individual feels discomfort but can still communicate and manage to participate in activities, though with some difficulty.

When evaluating the higher levels on the scale, a score of 7 suggests "severe" dyspnea, where individuals experience appreciable difficulty and might struggle to continue their activity. At a level of 9, there is "very severe" breathlessness, which is often associated with significant distress, and the individual may be unable to continue exertion. A score of 10 reflects "maximum" breathlessness, where the person feels they are unable to breathe comfortably at all and may require immediate cessation of activity.

Thus, while the other options indicate varying degrees of severe breathlessness, 5 is the level associated with a relatively lower marker of severity compared to the higher scores.