My car acts as if it's breathing heavily

Check all vacuum lines and sources for vacuum leaks, and check all your tune up parts, Air filter, plugs/wire set, clean or replace the PCV valve & vacuum line to it, Clean throttle body intake & IAC and MAF. Look on online for procedures to do so and what not to do (like touching the MAF filament) and using new IAC & throttle body gaskets. Is you check engine light on if so have it scanned for codes and remember to trouble shoot all possible causes for a code to set before replacing parts. May not be a bad idea to do a compression test on you cylinder to be sure you do not have a head gasket leak or intake gasket (find test procedures online).