Ever found yourself out of breath after climbing a short flight of stairs or just walking a few steps?
While it’s easy to blame it on being out of shape or getting older, shortness of breath can sometimes signal a deeper problem which is linked to your heart.
When your heart isn’t working properly, it struggles to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body. This can leave you gasping for air even during simple activities.
5 Heart Problems That Can Cause Shortness of Breath
Let’s look at five heart problems that can cause shortness of breath.
Heart Failure
Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart stops working completely. It means your heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should.
When this happens, blood and fluid can back up into the lungs, making it harder to breathe. You may notice swelling in your legs, tiredness, and shortness of breath, especially when lying down.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
CAD happens when the blood vessels supplying your heart become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup.
This restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Without enough oxygen, even light physical activity can leave you feeling breathless or cause chest discomfort.
Consulting a heart specialist can help detect and treat CAD before it leads to bigger problems.
Heart Valve Problems
Your heart valves act like doors that open and close to keep blood flowing in the right direction. If a valve becomes narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation), your heart has to work harder.
Over time, this strain can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, or even fainting. Valve issues often develop slowly, making early diagnosis very important.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats. When your heart beats too fast, too slow, or unevenly, it can’t pump blood effectively. This reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your body, leaving you feeling breathless, lightheaded, or tired.
Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others need medical attention to prevent serious complications.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle itself, making it thick, stiff, or stretched out.
As the heart weakens, it can’t pump blood efficiently, causing shortness of breath, swelling, and fatigue.
Cardiomyopathy can be genetic or triggered by other conditions like high blood pressure or infections.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you notice that you’re short of breath more often, especially without heavy activity, don’t ignore it. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly, worsens quickly, or happens along with chest pain, dizziness, or fainting needs immediate medical care.
Conclusion
Shortness of breath isn’t something you should brush off. It can be an early warning sign of a heart problem that needs attention.
At Long Life Super Speciality Clinic, our expert cardiology team with the best heart specialist in mukundapur is here to help you breathe easy again with advanced testing, diagnosis and care.
Book your heart check-up today and take the first step towards a healthier and stronger heart.