When being out of breath is something serious

Have you ever been out of breath after hiking up a long flight of stairs or finishing a tough workout? You’re not alone. When you overexert yourself, it’s pretty normal to experience shortness of breath. However, there are times when struggling to catch your breath may signal a larger health issue.

The most common reasons for being out of breath? “An underlying lung issue, like asthma or COPD, a cardiac issue and being a little out of shape are probably the main reasons,” says Nicholas Roy, DO, an expert in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care with Pulmonary and Sleep Associates of South Jersey in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Here are the times when you should and shouldn’t worry about being out breath.