I have trouble catching my breath after an effort: what to do?

Caution : You must consult your doctor for your health. This page presents only a personal and alternative point of view which should not be considered as an attempt to prescribe medicine.

The practice of an intense physical activity, sporting or not, solicits the muscles of the body including the heart.

They then need a significant supply of oxygen to recover.

This causes a normal feeling of shortness of breath.

On the other hand, the latter can become problematic if it occurs at the slightest effort and continues for too long or causes other symptoms.

Loss of breathing or shortness of breath

A great effort due to a sporting activity or to a significant request of the muscles results in an expenditure of energy.

To compensate for it, the heart increases its beats in order to send oxygenated blood to the organs.

At the same time, the rhythm of breathing accelerates and amplifies in order to bring more oxygen to the blood.

This automatic mechanism of the body can cause an uncomfortable but normal feeling of loss of breath.

Also called shortness of breath, the latter is explained by an imbalance between the demand for oxygen and the capacity of the respiratory system to supply it.

On the other hand, it becomes a health problem when the phenomenon persists or occurs after small efforts.

It may then require a medical consultation.

Causes of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

There are several causes that can cause unusual shortness of breath.

The most common is dyspnea.

Also called "respiratory discomfort", dyspnea results from a subjective feeling or a difficulty in having normal breathing.

People with dyspnea often complain of having trouble breathing or lacking air.

This respiratory disorder can occur after a more or less intense effort (exertional dyspnea) or at the time of a lying posture.

In rare cases, it can appear without a specific reason and therefore be a medical emergency.

It can also be a warning sign of a heart attack.

The other causes of difficulty in breathing are respiratory pathologies (asthma, pneumonia, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, etc.), smoking, lung cancer, heart disease, neuromuscular disorders, disorders metabolic (obesity), etc.

The consequences of unusual shortness of breath

Shortness of breath can be a real concern for daily life and health if it is not taken care of.

A person prone to shortness of breath will be limited in their movements (climbing stairs for example) and their daily activities (cleaning, shopping, etc.).

From a health perspective, difficulty breathing can lead to heart failure.

It can also lead to brain damage if the brain is irregularly or insufficiently oxygenated.

Cardiac arrest and therefore death can occur due to a poor supply of oxygen to the heart.

What to do in case of difficulty breathing?

Shortness of breath or difficulty in getting your breath back after an effort can be a cause of a more or less serious health problem.

It is therefore recommended, when it becomes frequent, to consult a health practitioner.

It becomes an emergency if it is accompanied by swollen feet or ankles, fever or cough, wheezing, bruising of the lips or fingertips, or when it occurs while lying down.

The doctor can make a diagnosis of the cause of the disorder and prescribe an appropriate treatment to relieve it or make it disappear.

It will be a question in particular of treating the pathological affection or the cardiac dysfunction at the origin of the evil using pharmaceutical products.

Hospitalization may be necessary in some cases such as acute dyspnea.

Take part in a physical activity

The practice of a regular physical activity is a very useful way to improve and boost the breath.

It will also be very beneficial in the case of overweight (probable major cause of dyspnea).

However, before starting, it is best to take the advice of a doctor and, especially for the beginnings, to take it easy.

In addition, it is advisable to do breathing improvement exercises, such as learning diaphragmatic breathing, breathing through the nose.

Have a healthy lifestyle

To relieve yourself from easy shortness of breath, a healthy lifestyle is necessary.

It is thus necessary to have good hydration, to avoid alcoholic drinks and especially to avoid smoking which is one of the main triggers of respiratory discomfort.

The carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke attaches to red blood cells and therefore leaves little room for oxygen to be absorbed.

People who are easily short of breath should also avoid exposure to air pollution and travel to high altitude areas.

You now have enough information not to be surprised by a complicated condition that causes shortness of breath.

Also remember that when respiratory discomfort occurs in a child, it is a health emergency.

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