Labored breathing refers to a type of respiratory pattern where an individual is working harder than usual to breathe. This can be characterized by rapid, shallow or irregular breaths that may indicate difficulty in getting enough air, shortness of breath or distress. It could also mean increased effort is being used to inflate the lungs due to underlying medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, heart failure, or other respiratory issues.