When assessing a patient's difficulty in breathing, which letter in OPQRST would relate to the time it started?

In the OPQRST mnemonic, which is used to assess a patient's symptoms systematically, "T" stands for "Time." This component specifically inquires about the timing and duration of the patient's symptoms, including when the difficulty in breathing began. Establishing the onset of symptoms can provide critical information about the nature of the respiratory issue, whether it is acute or chronic, and can help guide the appropriate course of treatment. Understanding when the difficulty started allows healthcare providers to evaluate potential underlying causes and urgency of care needed for the patient.