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The term that should be used to convey that a patient is experiencing discomfort and difficulty breathing is "dyspnea." Dyspnea specifically refers to the sensation of shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, making it the appropriate choice for describing the patient's condition to the provider. The other terms have distinct meanings that do not accurately represent the patient's experience of discomfort in breathing. "Apnea" refers to the absence of breathing, indicating a much more severe condition. "Tachypnea" describes an increased respiratory rate, which could be related but does not necessarily imply discomfort. "Bradypnea" indicates a slower than normal breathing rate, which again fails to capture the essence of what the patient is experiencing. Therefore, dyspnea is the most accurate and relevant term to describe the patient's symptoms.