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exertional

/ɪɡˈzɜrʃənəl/
IPA guide

The term exertional describes something that occurs during, or is triggered by, effort — especially physical effort. If you have difficulty breathing only while jogging, your doctor might refer to it as exertional shortness of breath.

You'll primarily find the word exertional used in medical settings, paired with specific symptoms. For example, exertional heatstroke occurs when someone overheats while exercising intensely, especially in hot weather. (Classic heatstroke results from environmental heat alone.) An exertional headache may be triggered by activities like running or weightlifting. Less commonly, the term can apply to mental effort — for example, fatigue or headaches that occur after a period of sustained, high-focus problem-solving.

Definitions of exertional
  1. adjective
    relating to or caused by using mental or physical effort
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