What Causes Shortness Of Breath While Climbing Stairs?

Posted on Wed, 14 Sep 2016

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

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 Answered on

Tue, 4 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I feel that I may need a stress test. I am experiencing shortness of breath going up stairs or uphill and when reading orally (I'm a teacher). I also become hoarse very quickly and have persistent mucus in my throat that does not easily clear.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Asthma or COPD seem more possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

You may have some heart insufficiency. Stress test is performed to provoke heart ischemia. It is not used to check heart failure. Heart ultrasound can determine your heart condition.
Heart failure is more possible if you have also leg swelling.

The symptoms you have described, are much more characteristic for asthma or COPD disease. Especially if you smoke.
I suggest you to have chest x-ray done and consult pulmunologist for spirometry (blow test).

Hope this helps.
Regards.

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