Here's What It Means If You Get Winded From Walking Up The Stairs - HuffPost

What the report says

HuffPost reported that becoming short of breath after climbing stairs is often a normal response, because going upward requires more effort than walking on level ground. The article cited Dr. Katherine Pohlgeers, a family medicine and sports medicine physician at University of Louisville Health, and Karl Erickson, a performance specialist at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, who explained that stair climbing increases the body’s need for oxygen and works the legs in a way similar to repeated lunges or squats.

According to HuffPost, brief breathlessness that resolves within about a minute or two is usually not alarming, especially after climbing quickly, carrying bags or tackling several flights. The degree of windedness can vary by fitness level, age, pace and load. The article noted that for many sedentary or average adults, feeling winded after one flight may still fall within normal limits.

The experts also outlined warning signs. HuffPost reported that people should speak with a doctor if stair-related breathlessness is new, worsening or takes longer than roughly three minutes to settle. Chest pain, headache or vision changes accompanying the shortness of breath were also described as reasons to seek medical advice. Potential contributors can include heart failure, chronic lung disease, COPD, smoking, anemia or obesity, according to the article.

For people without medical conditions that make stair climbing unsafe, HuffPost said endurance can improve with gradual practice and broader fitness work. Erickson and Pohlgeers recommended building leg strength through movements such as squats and lunges, improving cardiovascular conditioning, and increasing activity slowly through sustainable habits such as walking, yard work or gardening.