Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m out of breath walking up hills and a flight of stairs and always have been. Have never been able to figure out why (did the treadmill test once upon a time, lung function test, lung ct scans etc). I am fairly active and this happens even in periods of my life when I’m exercising cardio regularly. I’ve just accepted this is who I am, at 45. I work through this and yes have a hard time conversing while walking uphill.

OP here again. Yes, I've always been like that too. Years ago, for something unrelated, I had a stress test done and it was normal, but perhaps it was too long ago and I need to have it done again. I've been hiking in the mountains and walking all my life, but I do get out of breath quickly. It's only just dawned on me that some other people aren't like this.

I will ramp up exercise intensity and see if I can get better.

OP, I would get checked out BEFORE you change exercise intensity. I'd also get checked for exercise induced asthma, another possibility for your symptoms.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/exercise-induced-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372300

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m out of breath walking up hills and a flight of stairs and always have been. Have never been able to figure out why (did the treadmill test once upon a time, lung function test, lung ct scans etc). I am fairly active and this happens even in periods of my life when I’m exercising cardio regularly. I’ve just accepted this is who I am, at 45. I work through this and yes have a hard time conversing while walking uphill.

OP here again. Yes, I've always been like that too. Years ago, for something unrelated, I had a stress test done and it was normal, but perhaps it was too long ago and I need to have it done again. I've been hiking in the mountains and walking all my life, but I do get out of breath quickly. It's only just dawned on me that some other people aren't like this.

I will ramp up exercise intensity and see if I can get better.

Pp here. Give it a try! When I was jogging 2.5 miles a few times a week I will say that I saw slight improvement in my breathlessness but nothing major. Like you, I walk, hike, bike and am fairly active and am not overweight. So I think there’s always been something else going on that I might just never figure out! One other pp said anemia. I’ve tested for that over the years and am usually slightly low but not crazy anemic. And my vit d is good. So, it’s a mystery. One jerk of a doctor once mocked me when I raised this complaint by asking me whether I was an Olympic running in my youth or something…. Otherwise he told me to just shut up and accept I’m not an Olympic runner.

Could this be a relativity thing?

I feel like I've walked 3 miles after I walk three miles. It feels nice to come in, sit down, maybe have a drink. Typically I either jump right into the shower or grab a seltzer and get going on an errand or sit down to do work; most of the time, I never touch the drink (I just like security drinks).

If it's very cold I might shed a layer during the walk because it warms me up. If it's very hot I am more miserable, but not necessarily out of breath, just sweaty.

Sometimes I wonder about my fitness, but notice that almost every time I take the stairs or walk a hill with friends - almost all of whom are thin or healthy - they are the ones who are out of breath and in comparison I am unphased.

Is this a self-conscious assessment or are you really truly out of breath to the point you are uncomfortable? An elevated heart rate and sweating when it's warmer is expected of a 3 mile walk. I would not expect max heart rate/huffing and puffing.

do you have any existing or new allergies?

My allergies mainly impact my lungs and often cause breathing issues with exertion at certain times of year. I am allergic to tree pollen so right now I am struggling. In the fall, ragweed impacts me and then once the leaves have fallen and begin to rot I will also expect issues as I’m allergic to mold. Other times of year I am mostly ok and can walk, bike, and hike up hills without issue.

Yeah, I’d be like huffing and puffing at age 65.

But for some reason, I have no problem swimming 32 laps hard in 30 minutes, and I can talk to you fine afterwards.

Not sure why.

Get a check up, OP. Is it possible you might have asthma?

You can get a finger meter to check oxygen level very cheaply on Amazon. That might be good data for your doctor.

I was getting out of breath all the time and thought I just wasn't in shape, but I was having heart failure and ended up getting 3 valves replaced. I'm skinny and very active, too.

Go get checked out by a doctor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m out of breath walking up hills and a flight of stairs and always have been. Have never been able to figure out why (did the treadmill test once upon a time, lung function test, lung ct scans etc). I am fairly active and this happens even in periods of my life when I’m exercising cardio regularly. I’ve just accepted this is who I am, at 45. I work through this and yes have a hard time conversing while walking uphill.

OP here again. Yes, I've always been like that too. Years ago, for something unrelated, I had a stress test done and it was normal, but perhaps it was too long ago and I need to have it done again. I've been hiking in the mountains and walking all my life, but I do get out of breath quickly. It's only just dawned on me that some other people aren't like this.

I will ramp up exercise intensity and see if I can get better.

Yes you aren’t in shape. You need to challenge yourself and get past your comfort zone consistently to see improvement on your daily walk.

Is it possibly the conversation making you feel a bit anxious or rushed? I've had that same experience while trying to walk and maintain conversations as an introvert

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if whomever your walking companion is moves faster so you’re getting a better workout when you’re with someone. It might not be the talking but the faster pace.

Fwiw I’m 43 and when I go out on walks I’m at 15:00 min/mi pace.

This. 20 min is pretty slow to be winded.

Anonymous wrote:I’m out of breath walking up hills and a flight of stairs and always have been. Have never been able to figure out why (did the treadmill test once upon a time, lung function test, lung ct scans etc). I am fairly active and this happens even in periods of my life when I’m exercising cardio regularly. I’ve just accepted this is who I am, at 45. I work through this and yes have a hard time conversing while walking uphill.

OP here again. Yes, I've always been like that too. Years ago, for something unrelated, I had a stress test done and it was normal, but perhaps it was too long ago and I need to have it done again. I've been hiking in the mountains and walking all my life, but I do get out of breath quickly. It's only just dawned on me that some other people aren't like this.

I will ramp up exercise intensity and see if I can get better.

I mean you probably should have a drink after an hour walk. I’m not sure about the rest.

That really sounds like Covid

Anonymous wrote:OP this happened to me just recently.

Chest x-ray a virus has attacked my lungs.
I now have an inhaler.

62 years old and healthy up until now. Never smoked etc.

I had a horrible virus in September lasted over a month. Dr thinks it damaged my lungs, they can see it on a CT.

Are you sure that wasn't covid?

OP this happened to me just recently.

Chest x-ray a virus has attacked my lungs.
I now have an inhaler.

62 years old and healthy up until now. Never smoked etc.

I had a horrible virus in September lasted over a month. Dr thinks it damaged my lungs, they can see it on a CT.