Shortness of breath can be frightening, especially if it's new to you. Also referred to by the medical term dyspnea, it's a normal response to exercise, although it may also be associated with an underlying medical condition. Shortness of breath from mild exertion is particularly worrisome, especially if you have no history of shortness of breath. Get it evaluated by a medical professional.
Possible Causes
There are several sources of shortness of breath -- including the heart, lungs, airways, blood and psychological stressors. Conditions of the heart that may contribute to shortness of breath include heart attack, heart arrhythmias, heart failure, pericardial effusion and congenital heart defects. Causes related to the lungs include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute bronchitis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, pneumothorax, foreign body aspiration and pulmonary hypertension. Problems within the airways may arise from nasal congestion, epiglottitis, croup or a foreign body. Shortness of breath due to psychological causes can occur from panic attacks, anxiety or in response to pain. Other potential causes include allergens, physical deconditioning, strenuous exercise, obesity, high altitudes, exposure to dust, neuromuscular disorders, gastroesophageal reflux and a hiatal hernia.
What to Do
Stop exercising and seek immediate medical attention if you experience shortness of breath that begins abruptly; is severe; causes significant impairment in breathing or is accompanied by chest pain, nausea or fainting. Make an appointment with your doctor if you have swallowed or inhaled a foreign object, have a "barky" or "croupy" cough, experience shortness of breath at rest or with minimal exertion, have a fever, experience a worsening of preexisting symptoms, must sleep "propped up" on several pillows at night or have shortness of breath that wakes you up at night, MedlinePlus says.
Breathing Exercises
Your doctor or respiratory therapist may recommend breathing exercises if you have chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to help alleviate shortness of breath. Do these exercises, which include pursed lip breathing and paced breathing, when you feel short of breath. Pursed lip breathing helps slow breathing. You can do this exercise by taking a deep breath in and then breathing slowly out of your mouth while keeping your lips pursed. Use paced breathing to stave off shortness of breath during exercise. It involves taking short breaks to breathe. For example, when you lift weights, take a breath in before the exertion and then lift the weight as you breathe out. The idea is to not move while breathing in so that the muscles used for breathing don't get fatigued, the National Institutes of Health says.
Considerations
Though it's normal for deconditioned people to experience shortness of breath with exercise, this should typically diminish over time as the body adjusts to handling the demands of the body. Shortness of breath that is recurrent with exercise points to a chronic condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On the other hand, shortness of breath that occurs for the first time is a bit more complicated. It may be caused by a number of acute conditions, such as pneumonia or heart attack.
