Is it normal to be out of breath after 2 flights of stairs?
tegass1994
Posts: 11 Member
I start getting out if breath already after walking up 2 or 3 flights if stairs. 4 flights or more and I start panting. Is it normal? After how many flights do you loae your breath?
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Replies
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Yes it is normal. I can do like 4 hours of step aerobics no problem. A fast paced stair climb can leave me breathless however. Build up to it slowly. Stairs are really great exercise4
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Climbing actual stairs is a lot harder than most people think.8
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There’s actually races climbing stairs in tall buildings. It’s a workout for sure!4
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I lived on a 4th floor apartment for 3 years, now in a 3rd floor, both with no elevators. The stairs have never gotten easier lol. I'd say it's pretty normal.5
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It depends on your overall cardiovascular health. If you’re “in shape” it shouldn’t cause an issue. Being overweight or out of shape will make it an issue
Be careful asking about this though. I thought my mom was out of shape because she struggled to catch her breath pretty much under any exercise. Turns out she had congestive heart failure. Her arteries were almost completely blocked. If you are at all concerned please please go see a doctor.10 -
It's only a workout if you are *fast* at it -- not if you're trodging up. Just a general walk upstairs shouldn't make you be out of breath.
Are you always out of breath going upstairs? Or just sometimes?
If it's always, make a doctor's appointment. It can be an indication of anemia. It also can be an indication that you're out of shape, but rule out the anemia first.5 -
stairs always make me out of breath
i've run marathons. and stairs still make me out of breath4 -
collectingblues wrote: »It's only a workout if you are *fast* at it -- not if you're trodging up. Just a general walk upstairs shouldn't make you be out of breath.
Are you always out of breath going upstairs? Or just sometimes?
If it's always, make a doctor's appointment. It can be an indication of anemia. It also can be an indication that you're out of shape, but rule out the anemia first.
Speaking of anemia, I normally have no problem with one flight of stairs (that's all I have available) but when my iron count is low, I do have trouble with one flight of stairs.
Oh, actually, I do take the stairs when I go to the VA and do manage two flights of stairs at a slow pace just fine, so perhaps you should indeed get checked out just to rule out something that could be a minor problem now, but might turn into a big problem if left untreated.2 -
kshama2001 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »It's only a workout if you are *fast* at it -- not if you're trodging up. Just a general walk upstairs shouldn't make you be out of breath.
Are you always out of breath going upstairs? Or just sometimes?
If it's always, make a doctor's appointment. It can be an indication of anemia. It also can be an indication that you're out of shape, but rule out the anemia first.
Speaking of anemia, I normally have no problem with one flight of stairs (that's all I have available) but when my iron count is low, I do have trouble with one flight of stairs.
Oh, actually, I do take the stairs when I go to the VA and do manage two flights of stairs at a slow pace just fine, so perhaps you should indeed get checked out just to rule out something that could be a minor problem now, but might turn into a big problem if left untreated.
Yeah, and I'm pretty anemic, and *don't* have problems with stairs, but only thought of it because one of my friends was talking about how she's got problems when her iron is measuring low. (It's also part of why I'm pushing back at my PCP with her pursuing more testing right now, because I feel like specialists would just look at me like "Well, you're running half marathons and you're not getting winded, so who cares what your labs show?")0 -
collectingblues wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »It's only a workout if you are *fast* at it -- not if you're trodging up. Just a general walk upstairs shouldn't make you be out of breath.
Are you always out of breath going upstairs? Or just sometimes?
If it's always, make a doctor's appointment. It can be an indication of anemia. It also can be an indication that you're out of shape, but rule out the anemia first.
Speaking of anemia, I normally have no problem with one flight of stairs (that's all I have available) but when my iron count is low, I do have trouble with one flight of stairs.
Oh, actually, I do take the stairs when I go to the VA and do manage two flights of stairs at a slow pace just fine, so perhaps you should indeed get checked out just to rule out something that could be a minor problem now, but might turn into a big problem if left untreated.
Yeah, and I'm pretty anemic, and *don't* have problems with stairs, but only thought of it because one of my friends was talking about how she's got problems when her iron is measuring low. (It's also part of why I'm pushing back at my PCP with her pursuing more testing right now, because I feel like specialists would just look at me like "Well, you're running half marathons and you're not getting winded, so who cares what your labs show?")
So are you wanting more testing? Or PCP? Who cares about specialists—often seeing a “normal” patient is actually welcome for them...at worst it’s a quick, uncomplicated visit (so nice to give people good news for a change), at best it can be teaching opportunity for their staff. Case in point, I finally did a full cardiac testing gauntlet (echo, stress test, etc) to check out a rhythm irregularity I’d had for years last year. Nothing turned up, but the techs/nurses were all excited to do my echo bc they could see all the chambers (“usually you only see it like this on a child’s heart!”) and everything working normally. Apparently that’s not “normal” for them 😆4 -
It’s not stairs, but there’s a moderately steep parking lot between my house and the yoga studio. I will go a block out of the way because something about that one particular degree of incline makes my legs feel heavy and my breath hard.0
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gradchica27 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »It's only a workout if you are *fast* at it -- not if you're trodging up. Just a general walk upstairs shouldn't make you be out of breath.
Are you always out of breath going upstairs? Or just sometimes?
If it's always, make a doctor's appointment. It can be an indication of anemia. It also can be an indication that you're out of shape, but rule out the anemia first.
Speaking of anemia, I normally have no problem with one flight of stairs (that's all I have available) but when my iron count is low, I do have trouble with one flight of stairs.
Oh, actually, I do take the stairs when I go to the VA and do manage two flights of stairs at a slow pace just fine, so perhaps you should indeed get checked out just to rule out something that could be a minor problem now, but might turn into a big problem if left untreated.
Yeah, and I'm pretty anemic, and *don't* have problems with stairs, but only thought of it because one of my friends was talking about how she's got problems when her iron is measuring low. (It's also part of why I'm pushing back at my PCP with her pursuing more testing right now, because I feel like specialists would just look at me like "Well, you're running half marathons and you're not getting winded, so who cares what your labs show?")
So are you wanting more testing? Or PCP? Who cares about specialists—often seeing a “normal” patient is actually welcome for them...at worst it’s a quick, uncomplicated visit (so nice to give people good news for a change), at best it can be teaching opportunity for their staff. Case in point, I finally did a full cardiac testing gauntlet (echo, stress test, etc) to check out a rhythm irregularity I’d had for years last year. Nothing turned up, but the techs/nurses were all excited to do my echo bc they could see all the chambers (“usually you only see it like this on a child’s heart!”) and everything working normally. Apparently that’s not “normal” for them 😆
My PCP is pushing for more testing -- she wants to know *why* I'm so anemic. I'm medically exhausted at this point, and don't want to deal with one more person.
I had some medical issues in 2017-2018, thanks to my hypothyroid being mismanaged, and everyone I saw, except for the specialist I now see at Cleveland Clinic, told me I was just eating too much, and obsessing, and made me feel like I was wasting their time. And I refuse to go down that path again.3 -
It used to be normal for me, but not anymore. I am on the 1st floor of my office building and floors 2 and 3 are garage parking. I have always parked on the 3rd floor and taken the stairs down, no problem. That's easy! But I would take the elevator up to get to my car because yes, I would get out of breath going up the stairs. It can also be a juggling act if I am carrying a lot of stuff. But this week I decided to take the stairs up...and guess what, not out of breath! :-)2
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I used to live in a 4th floor walk-up and since I was used to it found it no big deal (even moving quickly and carrying groceries, and even when I was fat). Now that I haven't lived in that place for a year and a half, I'm out of practice, even though I'm reasonably fit in other ways, and when I visit my sister (who currently lives in a 4th floor walk-up), I really feel it!2
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Is it normal - yes. Think of the complexity of motion in ascending stairs. You're engaging a different set of muscles compared to walking/running. You're working against gravity and so expending almost twice the amount of energy.
Incorporate more stairs into your life and your body will adjust accordingly.7 -
Some people are better with stairs than other it seems. It has to do with being in shape and other stuff but also just plain old who yo are
A famous Norwegian skater - Johan Olav Koss (4x gold medalist in the Winter Olympics) was notoriously bad at stair climbing Nobody could say he was in bad shape though
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If you're trying to rush up the stairs, sure. But if not, well, you should be able to get through normal life activities without struggling.4
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It depends... On my own I don't get puffed after climbing two flights of stairs. But carrying stuff which weighs more than say 5 kg, yes I do. Also speed and actual height make a lot of difference.0
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tegass1994 wrote: »I start getting out if breath already after walking up 2 or 3 flights if stairs. 4 flights or more and I start panting. Is it normal? After how many flights do you loae your breath?
At first ... yes. Keep it up on a daily basis and before long you'll be doing 10+ flights without losing your breath.0 -
I walk up 6 flights of stairs every morning for work. Some mornings I am running up them and totally fine, other mornings I can barely breathe and struggle like you wouldn't believe. I have no idea what it seems easier some days haha1
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Agree that if you have access to stairs and do multiple flights of stairs regularly, it gets easier over time.
Strangely, one of the biggest indications that my calorie deficit is too large over too much time is when I start having difficulty with stairs. I am normally never winded doing one flight of stairs, but suddenly I’ll be out of breath and my legs feel like weighted iron going up the stairs. This happened to me when my BMI was 33 and still happens after losing 50 pounds.
Once my deficit is smaller or I’m eating at maintenance, I’m back to doing stairs without any issues.4 -
tegass1994 wrote: »I start getting out if breath already after walking up 2 or 3 flights if stairs. 4 flights or more and I start panting. Is it normal? After how many flights do you loae your breath?
1) you could be out of shape and be climbing faster than your current condition allows
2) you could have un- or under-treated asthma
3) small possibility of a heart condition, however this would commonly be accompanied by leg pain ("claudication") because of not delivering oxygen to the muscles at an adequate rate.
pick what you think fits. If you're worried about the medical possibilities then ask your doc to check you out.1 -
amandarawr06 wrote: »I walk up 6 flights of stairs every morning for work. Some mornings I am running up them and totally fine, other mornings I can barely breathe and struggle like you wouldn't believe. I have no idea what it seems easier some days haha
This *totally* sounds like un- or under-treated asthma. See your doc, there's an easy fix for it.
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amandarawr06 wrote: »I walk up 6 flights of stairs every morning for work. Some mornings I am running up them and totally fine, other mornings I can barely breathe and struggle like you wouldn't believe. I have no idea what it seems easier some days haha
This *totally* sounds like un- or under-treated asthma. See your doc, there's an easy fix for it.
I don't have asthma - some mornings its just more of a hustle to get up 6 flights of stairs. Its usually when I'm feeling more sleepy.0 -
I think sometimes, for some people, it can be related to stress/anxiety too. I tend to hold my breath or breathe too shallow without realizing it when I am nervous or really worried about something. Normally I am not out of breath after climbing several flights of stairs, and I hike a lot and don't have any problems even at high altitudes. But give me an extra stressful day and I'll find myself gasping on the second flight of stairs because of the way I'm breathing/holding my breath!2
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It might be "normal" but I wouldn't consider it healthy. That's one of the things that convinced me that I needed to lose weight. Between that and riding a bicycle several times a week, it takes several flights of stairs for me to pay much attention to them.1
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tegass1994 wrote: »I start getting out if breath already after walking up 2 or 3 flights if stairs. 4 flights or more and I start panting. Is it normal? After how many flights do you loae your breath?
If you haven't done so, please get checked out by your doctor. If being out of breath after a couple of flights of stairs is new to you, something could be wrong. Don't take any chances with your health.0 -
I did the equivalent of 30 flights of stairs yesterday. Needed lots of rest breaks.
The view at the top wasn't worth it, but after getting home and consulting with a map I learned that I wasn't actually at the top - had another half mile and 10 more flights to go. (It's hard to tell due to the trees.)
Am going to try again tomorrow or Friday, but this time from a different approach.4 -
When doing a step test, the cadence of steps is up, up, down, down (both feet step up, both feet step down). When using a 10 inch step at a frequency of 24 steps/min, the approximate energy cost is over 5.5 METs. Moderate intensity exercise is defined as 3-6 METs.
When climbing stairs, there is no recovery like you would have in a step test. You just keep going up. And chances are, your step rate is higher than 24 steps/min.
Add some extra body weight, and you have a work effort that is very likely above the threshold of “moderate” exertion. Just as your breathing increases when you a cardio workout, it is not unreasonable or unhealthy for heart rate to increase while going up stairs for any sustained period of time.6
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