National Times Bureau, Aug 8, 2025: It’s normal to feel a little breathless after running up the stairs or carrying heavy groceries. That’s your body’s way of telling you it’s working harder your heart beats faster, your lungs draw in more air, and your muscles demand extra oxygen.
But when shortness of breath becomes frequent, happens with minimal activity, or appears alongside other worrying symptoms, it could be more than just being unfit. Sometimes, it’s your body’s way of waving a red flag.
When to Pay Attention
While a bit of huffing and puffing is no cause for alarm, breathlessness that comes with these signs shouldn’t be ignored:
1. Difficulty with activities that once felt easy
2. Shortness of breath at rest or with light movement
3. A persistent cough whether dry or with mucus
4. Wheezing or whistling sounds while breathing
5. Tightness or pain in the chest
6. Frequent respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia
7. Severe, unexplained fatigue
Possible Causes
While a bit of huffing and puffing is no cause for alarm, breathlessness that comes with these signs shouldn’t be ignored:
1. Difficulty with activities that once felt easy
2. Shortness of breath at rest or with light movement
3. A persistent cough whether dry or with mucus
4. Wheezing or whistling sounds while breathing
5. Tightness or pain in the chest
6. Frequent respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia
7. Severe, unexplained fatigue
Possible Causes
1. Shortness of breath can stem from a range of conditions some temporary, others more serious.
2. Lung-related issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, or even a blood clot in the lungs.
3. Heart conditions like coronary artery disease or heart failure, which reduce the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching the body.
Other factors including low fitness levels, anaemia, obesity, high stress or anxiety, allergies, high altitudes, or certain medications.
Why It Matters
1. Shortness of breath can stem from a range of conditions some temporary, others more serious.
2. Lung-related issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, or even a blood clot in the lungs.
3. Heart conditions like coronary artery disease or heart failure, which reduce the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching the body.
Other factors including low fitness levels, anaemia, obesity, high stress or anxiety, allergies, high altitudes, or certain medications.
Why It Matters
Breathlessness might seem like a small inconvenience, but untreated underlying conditions can gradually worsen, affecting your quality of life. Early detection and medical advice can prevent complications and keep you active for longer.
Breathlessness might seem like a small inconvenience, but untreated underlying conditions can gradually worsen, affecting your quality of life. Early detection and medical advice can prevent complications and keep you active for longer.
What You Should Do
1. See a doctor if your symptoms are new, worsening, or accompanied by other issues.
2. Be specific when describing your symptoms l how often they happen, what triggers them, and what helps.
4. Get tested your doctor may recommend lung function tests, X-rays, ECGs, or blood work.
5. Follow treatment plans whether that means medication, lifestyle changes, or further specialist care.
At the end of the day, climbing stairs is great for your heart and lungs. But if you’re gasping for air more often than before, take it as a gentle nudge from your body to slow down, get checked, and keep yourself breathing easy.
