A doctor has highlighted the danger of ignoring « the most common symptom » people suffer from yet choose to avoid.
Dr Robert Kelly said while you’d be forgiven for thinking that ailment is chest pain, it’s actually shortness of breath. « If you’re getting short of breath going up hills, talking or from any little bit of effort whatsoever, then you need to reach out and see and see a cardiologist, » he explained in a TikTok video.
Indeed, the NHS points out that shortness of breath has lots of different causes, with common including asthma, a chest infection, being overweight, smoking and a panic attack.
However, it could be a warning sign of something much more sinister. « Sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious, such as a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), scarring of the lungs known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, heart failure and lung cancer, » the NHS advises online.
Of course, as with any health problem, the symptom could have one of many causes, varying in range of severity. As such the NHS suggests: « Do not try to self-diagnose the cause of shortness of breath – always see a GP. Any treatment you may need depends on what’s causing your symptoms. »
The NHS goes on to stress the importance of seeing a GP if:
- Your shortness of breath gets worse when you’ve been doing your normal activities, or when you lie down
- You feel short of breath and have swollen ankles
- You’ve been coughing for 3 weeks or more
« It’s important to get medical advice to make sure it’s nothing serious, » it adds. « You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting it checked out. »
Meanwhile, you should contact 111 if:
- You have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
- You feel sick or are being sick
- You’re coughing up blood
- You have pain or swelling in 1 of your legs
- You have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
Writing in response to Dr Kelly, one TikTok user shared their story. « Totally agree, I’m what I thought was fit but started getting out of breath doing tasks lifting etc. Next thing I know it’s a quadruple bypass. »
Similarly, a second person revealed: « I was getting short of breath under strain, got checked, two weeks later triple bypass passed, doing well now. »
« So glad to hear you’re doing well now – that’s exactly why sharing these stories matters, » Dr Kelly noted. « Recovery doesn’t stop after surgery, it’s about protecting your heart long-term. »
While a third reported: « I can’t walk up a flight of steps without being out of breath. Stress test came back normal. However, Im also overweight and very sedentary job. »
To this, Dr Kelly advised: « Thanks for sharing this – and it’s good your stress test came back normal. Still, breathlessness is always worth discussing with your own GP or cardiologist, especially if it’s limiting day-to-day life. »
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