Even if you consider yourself "in shape," it's still normal to feel out of breath after climbing stairs. That's because you're transitioning from a resting state to a high-intensity exercise quickly, and your body needs more oxygen to deliver to your muscles (hence why you start breathing heavily).
“In general, if you're deconditioned, you might have a little shortness of breath when you climb stairs,” Dr. Benzaquen says. If you're out of breath with pretty low-intensity movements, young, otherwise healthy, and can't remember the last time you worked out, exercising more regularly will probably help, Dr.
Your body suddenly needs more oxygen -- hence the feeling of being winded. Another reason why it affects you so strongly is because walking up stairs uses your fast-twitch muscles, which are used for explosive movements, and muscles like your glutes that you may not commonly train.
If shortness of breath happens when you're clearly not exerting yourself, when you're doing something you normally could do without feeling winded, or comes on suddenly, those are warning signs that a heart issue could potentially be to blame.
If you have sudden or severe shortness of breath, especially if you're also having other symptoms, like nausea, chest pain or blue skin, lips or nails, go to the nearest ER.
People can experience shortness of breath while walking for a number of reasons. Sometimes, this occurs as a result of conditions such as anxiety, asthma, or obesity. Less commonly, shortness of breath signals a more serious underlying medical condition.
Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.
Stage 2 of Congestive Heart Failure
Stage two of congestive heart failure will produce symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations after you participate in physical activity.
"Chest pain, rapid heartbeat and breathlessness may result when an insufficient amount of blood reaches the heart muscle," says Tung. (See "Symptoms" below.) One of the key distinctions between the two is that a heart attack often develops during physical exertion, whereas a panic attack can occur at rest.
You should visit your doctor if you experience any shortness of breath that is not expected from an activity and the current state of your fitness or health. If your shortness of breath does not decrease with treatment or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as chest pain, you should get to a hospital immediately.
While there are many causes of shortness of breath, the most common causes are lung disease, heart disease, or deconditioning (lack of exercise, especially in people who are overweight or obese).
The most common cause of breathlessness is simply being out of shape. Leading a sedentary lifestyle brings about dyspnea when the time comes to perform a simple task. Add smoking or obesity to the equation and lifting a heavy box is sure to bring on huffs and puffs.
The sensation of heavy legs, also known as venous insufficiency, is related to poor circulation. It occurs when blood flow from the legs to the heart is impaired, causing the heaviness.
If you cough a lot, often feel weak, have lost your appetite, and need to urinate a lot at night, you might have symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure is a long-term condition that usually comes on slowly. However, it can develop suddenly, for instance, after a heart attack.
“Getting diagnosed with heart failure usually starts when you notice symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, rapid or irregular heartbeat or swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or abdomen,” says Dr. Piña.
Stage A (pre-heart failure) means you're at a high risk of developing heart failure because you have a family history of congestive heart failure or you have one or more of these medical conditions: Hypertension. Diabetes. Coronary artery disease.
About shortness of breath
It's normal to get out of breath when you've overexerted yourself, but when breathlessness comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, it's usually a warning sign of a medical condition.
Use Pursed Lip Breathing when walking. Inhale through your nose and exhale through pursed lips. Exhale slowly and comfortably, not forcibly, breathing out twice as long as you breath in. This will keep your breathing slow and restore oxygen to your body more rapidly.
Extra fat on your neck, chest, or across your abdomen can make it difficult to breathe deeply and may produce hormone that affect your body's breathing patterns. You may also have a problem with the way your brain controls your breathing.
Many conditions can cause chronic breathlessness including: Chronic lung diseases, including COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.
Physical exercise to improve breathing
Make sure you discuss the possibilities of an exercise program with your doctor or healthcare professional before you start any new activities. Some examples of physical activity that can be useful include: Walking – start with a few minutes each week and build up slowly.
If you have heart failure, this can happen if you have too much fluid in your body, which can build up in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. If you have a heart rhythm problem, this can cause sudden breathlessness. Persistent breathlessness, every day (chronic).