What Causes Shortness Of Breath Upon Walking?

Posted on Tue, 22 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 Answered on

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife has recently developed shortness of breath when walking across the room. She has to sit down
until heavy brething stops, Sometimes she feels that it is so severe she will die.

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If there is a recent change, call the pulmonologist.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXX,

I am sorry your wife's shortness of breath is so severe that she is having trouble crossing the room.

If this is a change from how she was when she last saw the pulmonologist, please call the phone number for the pulmonologist and talk with him/her or the doctor who is on call for him/her. If there has been a significant change, please don't wait - call now.

However, if you are writing in to get more information on various causes of shortness of breath, please let me know that is what you are requesting. How can I best help you?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar