Feeling short of breath after a light workout can make you feel scared, especially if you are uncertain about why you may be feeling that way. The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. Feeling short of breath can result from treatable conditions or something much more serious like heart disease or cancer. If you feel shortness of breath after a light workout, see your doctor.
Asthma
Asthma is a common condition that can be exacerbated by even light exercise. Exercising causes your body to demand a larger amount of oxygen than normal, and asthma causes your airways to swell and become narrower, resulting in a feeling of being out of breath. The shortness of breath may come in addition to coughing and producing extra mucus in your airway. Often your doctor can help you treat or prevent the symptoms of asthma using medication or an inhaler, but severe asthma attacks can be life threatening.
Heart Problems
Heart problems, such as cardiomyopathy and heart arrhythmias, can also cause a shortness of breath after light exercise. Cardiomyopathy is essentially a disease that weakens your heart muscles, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood to all of the cells in your body. Heart arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats---too fast, too slow or not at a rhythmic pace. Both conditions are treatable, but you should see a doctor if you feel pain in your heart after just a light workout, as you may be able to prevent more serious conditions such as heart failure or a heart attack.
Injury
Shortness of breath does not have to come from a genetic condition; it can also come from an acute injury such as broken ribs. Your ribs can fracture during a fall, accident or while playing sports, and exercise can increase the discomfort that this injury may cause, including shortness of breath. Rest is crucial if you have cracked ribs, as placing too much stress on them, which may occur during strenuous exercise, can damage your lungs, heart, liver and blood vessels.
Panic and Anxiety
If you are exercising and feel short of breath, you might be having a panic or anxiety attack. These attacks can make you feel out of breath as well as nervous, chilly, dizzy or faint. You may also experience a rapid heart rate, cramping or hyperventilation. You may have difficulty predicting when a panic or anxiety attack may come, and they are not necessarily genetic. These attacks may last a few seconds or longer than an hour. If you begin having an anxiety or panic attack, especially while exercising, consult a physician for help in managing them.
