Feeling out of breath happens to everyone. It can happen after walking up stairs, running, or being out in the cold. In most cases, it’s a normal reaction. Your body needs more oxygen during physical activity or in certain weather. But if you’re short of breath often or it’s worsening, it could point to a health issue like COPD.
Lesley Williams, a Registered Respiratory Therapist at Apria with 35 years of experience, states, “Shortness of breath may seem simple, but it’s often the body’s signal that something deeper is happening. Recognizing and addressing these early signs, especially in conditions like COPD, is key to improving health and preserving quality of life.”
Breathing is a team effort between your nose, mouth, lungs, and blood vessels. When you inhale, air moves through your nose or mouth and down into your lungs. There, it enters small sacs called alveoli. Oxygen from the air moves through the alveoli walls and into your blood. This oxygen helps your body and organs work. If something blocks this process, breathing can feel harder.
Doctors often use the MMRC Dyspnea Scale to measure shortness of breath. It’s simple and helps describe how hard it is to breathe:
This scale helps doctors understand how much breathing problems affect your daily life.
COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It includes two common lung problems: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both can make breathing harder.
Other health problems can also cause or worsen shortness of breath:
Getting a little out of breath after activity is normal. But if you’re short of breath doing everyday things, or it’s getting worse, talk to your doctor. Early help can make a big difference. It can improve symptoms and protect your lungs.
Understanding the cause of your breathlessness is the first step. Tools like the MMRC scale can help guide your care and treatment plan.
References
Lewthwaite, Hayley, Dennis Jensen, and Magnus Ekström. “How to Assess Breathlessness in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 3, 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8184148/.
O’Donnell, Denis E, Kathryn M Milne, Matthew D James, Juan Pablo de Torres, and J Alberto Neder. “Dyspnea in COPD: New Mechanistic Insights and Management Implications.” PubMed Central, January 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6979461/.
Pahal, Parul, Akshay Avula, and Muriam Afzal. “Emphysema.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, March 28, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482217/.
Widysanto, Allen, Jennifer Goldin, and George Mathew. “Chronic Bronchitis.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, February 6, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482437/.
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