The new basis for the surviving spouse would be equal to the fair market value on the date of death plus the original basis divided by 2 or $100,000 + 50,000 / 2 = $75,000. In other words, half of the assets receive a stepped up basis â not too bad.
1 Heart disease or heart attack (in this case, shortness of breath may be accompanied by swelling of the feet/ankles). 2  Lung disease. 3  Emphysema. 4  Pneumonia (breathlessness often accompanied by high fever, cough and mucus). 5  Asthma or allergies. 6  Anemia (other symptoms characterized by fatigue and pale skin color).
Many health conditions can cause shortness of breath. Many other things, including panic attacks, lung cancer, and low red blood cell count (anemia), can make you feel out of breath. If you have dyspnea regularly and don't know why, make an appointment with your doctor to find out.