Pulmonologist Questions Pulmonologist

What causes shortness of breath walking upstairs?

I am a 32 year old male. I get shortness of breath walking upstairs. It is not COVID. What causes shortness of breath walking upstairs?

1 Answer

S of B at your age could be any of three different causes. The most likely is:

1. De-conditioning. (Out of shape) It you get S of B on one flight of stairs, try to two flights two or three times a day. Once this becomes easier, proceed to three flights two or three times a day. Then continue to proceed increasing every two or three weeks.
2) If your S of B is associated with nocturnal shortness, waking up during the night with S of B or ankle edema, cardiac causes should be suspected. An ECG should R/O a cardiac cause.
3) If your S of B is associated with wheezing or other noise in your chest, an evaluation with a CXR (chest X-ray) should be done to R/O pulmonary fibrosis or other lesions in the chest, with wheezing a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) would be needed for evaluation. Both of these can usually be done by most family physicians. Also, an urgent care center should be able to do them.
If this is primarily being out of shape from lack of conditioning, I have outlined a complete program in a Handbook for Total Body Re-Conditioning readily available under my name or the title on Amazon.

Best Wishes,

Del Meyer, MD