Why am I out of breath easily?

You should have a medical checkup before starting an exercise program, no matter your age, so that any previously undetected problems, such as a heart condition or diabetes, would be found beforehand. I strongly recommend you make an appt with your doctor before resuming your workout. Secondly, you need to be well hydrated before and during a workout so be sure to drink water before you start and have a water bottle to drink from during.

The first two things that pop into my head is either you’re unfit or you have an iron deficiency. Two of the most common causes of breathlessness, shortness of breath and general fatigue.

Everyone deal with this…as it take a while for your body to produce endorphins! Endorphins give the body energy and also kills the pain.

Would not worry about this until you are short of breath during the whole workout!

@HTDC Well I am not unfit, or I don’t think I am. I do have an Iron deficiency but what does that have to do with it?

@Dibley Read this or this.

@Dibley There are many symptoms of anemia that is caused by iron deficiency. Each individual will not experience all the symptoms and if the anemia is mild, the symptoms may not be noticeable. Some of the symptoms are: Pale skin color, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, sore tongue, brittle nails, decreased appetite (especially in children), headache – frontal.

You should see a Physician.
If the doctor finds nothing wrong. You should begin some type of exercise routine. When you do any type of Aerobic activity it will increase your ability to breath properly.
I am not young anymore . I have worked out my whole life. I can clean the house or run up and down the stairs without getting out of breath. LOL I feel in my bones; but thankfully my heart is still in decent shape.

If you have an iron deficiency its going to affect your blood cells, which carry the oxygen through your body. Your body is probably struggling to adjust when you start excercising.

@Dibley Everyone experiences this at the beginning of an exercise. We all have heard about athletes getting their “second wind!” Same thing applies here. My concern would be that you are short of breath through out the exercise. Good example, when I walk in the mornings, the first lap is always the hardest, and after that, it is smooth sailing.

Are you on any medications? Also try doing a longer warm up routine something that will stimulate most of your muscles especially the large muscle groups. I love doing a short yoga practice before swimming as it stretches and awakens my circulatory system and I can hit the water and go.

Speaking for myself, I do not experience that “I am so worn out and feel like I am about to have an heart attack” for the first 10 minutes of every exercise.

Nor would I consider that I’m getting my second wind after only 10 minutes.

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Dibley, you also wrote, “I stop take a drink and then I can carry on without any problem and for any length without feeling how I do at the beginning.”

How long is “any length” and what kind of exercise? 30 minutes on the elliptical? 60 minutes of tennis? 2 hours of rowing?

@Cruiser Just anti depressants.

@robmandu Cycling mainly. Whether it be outside or on the exercise bike. On the exercise bike I get bored and only do 45 minutes. When we go out on the bikes it can hours, I can cope with it but first 10 minutes are a killer, I can get to the end of the street and need to stop for a drink.

@robmandu Well, this is from my experience of playing high school and college basketball. You are always winded after the first few minutes of a game and you do get a “second wind!”

@Dibley This really should be comprehensively evaluated medically. I’m also a “slow starter” and have to force myself to start the exercise in the first place and then over an early “hump” until the endorphins kick in. I’m no expert, but I’ve read that some antidepressants can cause symptoms like this (dehydration and tiredness). For motivation I combine exercise and useful activities; cutting, splitting and stacking firewood are a favorite of mine. Medium distance running and cross-country skiing I “justify” as patrolling the property.My version of cycling is of the motorized variety on my 1938 Harley-Davidson, combining transportation and a bit of anti-social expression

Sounds like your eating habits are affecting you. You may have low blood sugar. Try drinking approximately 150 ml of water or a sports drink 5–10 minutes before you begin working out. Do you feel like you could possibly pass out or is it just like you feel you are out of breath? Are you exercising hard initially? If so, start off slow and gradually make the exercise more challenging. Warming up your muscles first with a slow walk, light jog in place, or riding on the stationary bike would be a good thing to do to get the oxygen flowing. Perhaps you have been jumping into working out too quickly and your body is overwhelmed.

@mass_pike4 Good points, hadn’t thought of those. +GA

@mass_pike4 I feel like I could pass out with very little effort. I don’t do any warm up. I just get straight into it really.

OK, I would definitely suggest drinking more fluids then throughout the day. Do not just drink when you’re thirsty. I’m sure you know that when you are thirsty it is because your body is telling you you are depleted of the right amount needed to function properly. Also, try incorporating more energy foods into your diet like nuts, fruits, and load up on the carbs. I do not know what your diet is like. Others have mentioned that your iron levels may be low and that certainly could be the case. Green leafy veggies help boost your iron levels, spinach in particular. An iron deficiency is known as anemia. Perhaps you should go to your doctor to check this out.

Otherwise, when exercising start off with slow warm-ups for as long as you’d like to the point that you feel like you are ready to go. Professionals and people who are certified trainers say to do a light warm-up for less than 5 minutes. I say warm-up and work at your own pace until YOU feel ready. No one knows your body as well as you do, so in saying that, treat it right. Feed it the right foods it needs. Exercise is the best thing you can do for it, so I am glad you are concerned about this. I hope you consider the things I have mentioned and let us know how things go :)

@mass_pike4 Thank you, I will.

@Dibley I am no Dr. and you probably should consult yours about the AD meds and iron deficiency…could be a connection there. Either way you say after 10 mins you are fine to rock and roll in your exercise I again would say it sounds to me you need a good warm up to stimulate and oxygenate your blood so you can get down to it from the get go.

Try this next time…Start with arm circles slowly and deliberately while you slowly and fully inhale especially focusing in filling your belly and not your chest and then exhale at a faster rate. Do that for 4 – 5 breaths and reverse the direction of the circles for another 4–5 full slow inhale this time faster and more forceful exhale.

This is called yogic breathing or Pranyama and is great for improving your breathing and should open up your lungs and allow you to jump start you workouts. Good luck!

Have your vitamins and minerals checked. Vitamin D comes to mind as many people lack it and don’t know it. Also slight hormone deficiencies can cause breathlessness. They’re worth checking too. Good luck!:)

@Cruiser Thanks, I’ll give it a go.

@Excalibur Thanks.