Shortness of Breath on Exertion

If a person is experiencing shortness of breath on exertion, it generally signifies poor physical condition. This can be caused by the problem of obesity, or also due to excessive smoking habits. Each individuals physical condition is distinctly different from that of other people, so naturally there are some people who can exert themselves more.

There comes a limit for everyone in this exertion though, and sooner or later even the fittest person will experience shortness of breath after exercise. But it is the time gap between beginning the exertion and experiencing breathing problems that determines what shape an individual is in.

Causes
This condition can be attributed to many causes, and it is most likely to occur when one undertakes some strenuous physical activity. If something as simple as climbing a few stairs causes you to feel short of breath, then you surely need to be concerned about it. Then again, this also depends on the individuals age, gender, previous medical history and general state of health. Here are some common causes for this problem, if it is seen in a generally healthy person.

• Obesity
• Kidney disease
• Anemia
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Pregnancy
• Heart disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Pulmonary embolism
• Interstitial fibrosis
• Tumor
• Liver disease
• Extremely poor physical condition

Shortness of breath broadly implies that either an insufficient amount of oxygen is reaching your lungs, or an insufficient amount of carbon dioxide is not being released by your lungs. Either way, the emergence of this problem signifies something is amiss, and one must act immediately to get to the bottom of the problem. This is especially true for people who experience this at an alarming rate of regularity.

Treatment
In order to treat this condition, a thorough and complete check up by a doctor is mandatory. There is no other way of knowing the exact cause of this phenomenon, unless of course, it is a case of obesity. A doctor will have to analyze the entire medical history and habits of an individual, simply due to the large number of causes of this problem. Please remember, that a doctor should be involved only if you are experiencing this often, and not if you just felt it once.

If you are exerting yourself or exercising, and feels the following symptoms in extremities, you should immediately call 911 for medical assistance though.

• Choking
• Gasping for breath
• Passing out
• Sweating excessively
• Dizziness
• Air hunger
• Hyperventilating
• Chest pain
• Pallor (pale skin) or cyanosis (skin turns blue)
• Swelling in the ankles and legs

Preventive Measures
There are certain steps that one can take in order to prevent this condition from occurring too often. It goes without saying that the first thing you need to do is exercise. Set a regime that suits your body type and stamina level, and stick to it regularly. At first you may feel that this is only exasperating the situation, but soon you will find yourself in better physical condition. This condition in children is a rare occurrence, but if it does show itself, a little exercise and conditioning (in the form of outdoor sports) will cure that soon.

Secondly, you need to control your eating habits. Start eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, and it will benefit your body in more ways than one. There are certain food items that are greater energy sources, and your diet must consist of such items. Moreover, if you are a heavy smoker you should cut down on that immediately. You should also curb and restrict any other consumptive habits that you may have.

The important thing is to not panic if you experience shortness of breath after a lot of activity. You need to calm down, and analyze the way you live your life, to get to the bottom of the problem. If all else fails, visiting a doctor will be immensely helpful.