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March 30, 2021 4:21 pm
‘I’m a Cardiologist, and Here’s What It Really Means When You’re Out of Breath From Walking Up the Stairs’
Photo: Getty/Westend 61
According to Cristian Plascencia, CPT, CSCS, a physical therapist with 1AND1 LIFE, there are a few different reasons why this might be happening. “Maybe you haven’t had enough to eat and are under-nourished, maybe you had a tough training cycle, or maybe your heart has a hard time being able to pump more blood and oxygen throughout your body as you increase the demands of your system by going up stairs.” In other words, if you’re not doing stair climbing training in your day-to-day workouts, you still might be winded by the time you get to the fourth-floor stairs.
If you want to make those climbs easier, though, Plascencia suggests starting with low-intensity walks or hikes and focusing on building your capacity at these lower thresholds. “Breathing through your nose during low-intensity activities can help ensure you keep your heart rate relatively low and also help your body become more efficient at breathing and utilizing oxygen,” says Plascencia. Start with 30 minutes, then work your way up to 75, and you’ll see the effects in your breath when it comes time to hit the stairs… which will feel like a cinch after 75 minutes of hiking uphill (and proper fueling and rest, of course).
