Any doctors? Is this lack of cardio fitness or am I on course for a cardiac issue?

[Mollytohiding]

Any doctors out there? I'm post meno, have exercised for years and years but whilst for a long time did HITT classes, more and more focussed on heavy weights. This past year, cardio dropped to very little, exclusively weights. I skip for a minute at the end of each session. I walk the dog, but you know - no great pace. I have sedentary job. I have slightly elevated cholesterol (familial)

Two weeks ago, walked up a steepish road with a friend, a bit pissed, talking - got winded, had to stop. Same thing next day uphill on phone.

I then tried to test myself walking up an INCREDIBLY steep hill with difficult foot markings and I did it but it was hard. Husband and kids tore up, annoyingly.

So, am I cardio unconditioned, as they say, or could there be something else?

Getting short of breath on exertion was my relative's only sign of serious heart problems. So I think I'd see a doctor about it.

Given that you know you're sedentary and have cut back on cardio, I would increase that first and see if it makes a difference before panicking.

If you do very little cardio it could just be lack of aerobic fitness. Try slowly increasing what you do and see there is any improvement.
If you were normally able to do it easily and it suddenly got really hard, then I would say see your doctor. But you just sound unfit to me - I've been there too unfortunately.

Yes, I suspect that's what it is. So galling as I'm so much stronger now. But I guess at my age, I need to really focus on both.

Check your heart rate at the top of the hill and the recovery time to normal when you are at the top, I think those two measurements give you some information on your heart health. I would have to google it.

Post menopause (aka Getting Older) I find my cardio fitness can drop pretty quickly unless I keep up the work. But also, as PP above said, my DH's heart condition was only discovered during lockdown when the gyms shut and he had to up his cardio and found he was getting breathless quickly. Tough one to balance.

what condition does your DH have, if you don't mind me asking?

what's the most inexpensive gadget to get to track all this stuff in the gym?

Please see your GP - there are many things that this could be including anaemia.
Hope you get sorted soon

I was about to say the same. I have a friend who had this and it was anaemia with an underlying problem at the heart of it.

Thank you.
What sort of underlying problem? Like something connected to anaemia, but not the heart?

Yes. I won’t go into details but do go and see your GP.

Thanks, for reasons I won't go into, I am mostly focused on it not being the heart - hence the query! Apologies and thanks

I find cardio drops off quite dramatically if you stop or cut down. It does come back quickly though. There is a steep set of steps quite close to me. I use it as a benchmark for my cardio fitness. You know, how I feel when I stride up it at pace. If I feel I need to stop, etc

I suspect I have completely underestimated what level of cardio I was at and what I needed to do to maintain it. I've done hardly anything really cardio for over a year or so.

I was stupid. But there were good reasons to focus on strength.

I dropped cardio pretty much too in favour of weights. Because, menopause, bone health, etc. I get it!

I’m mid 50s and I’ve done the same exercise wise, this last year very little cardio and more walking/weights. However, I am surrounded by hills and haven’t noticed myself getting out of breath whilst walking up them - I definitely think this as PPs have already suggested, that it’s worth a discussion with your GP.

But maybe my walking hasn't been brisk or uphill enough. Or not enough of it. Some days, maybe a few on the trot, I don't walk because I'm so busy with work etc. You could have simply maintained better cardio fitness baseline

Not trying to justify or just say it's cardio but giving realistic pic. Of course, I will be discussing with GP

Is it just when you’re walking and talking? I only notice it if I am chatting to someone.

Very possibly but reading your OP it sounds like you should have a good baseline fitness wise with years of exercise behind you, or so I would have thought. I just think that at our age it’s best not to take any chances.

Isn't it normal to get out of breath when exercising? Otherwise it's not really exercising, is it?

My cousin around age 50 had treatment for narrowed arteries and the only sign of a problem was him getting unexpectedly out of breath. I would definitely get checked out by a doctor.

Slowly focus on being less sedentary - find a route of a set length eg 3 miles. Walk ot every day. At first it might take you an hour - but you'll soon be around in 40 mins which is manageable in your day IF you make it happen etc.

Unexpectedly - when he was exercising or general day to day?

@Mollytohiding When you say "got winded" do you mean out of breath or short of breath/tight chested?

The former would be normal if you've let your cardiorespiratory work slide, the latter indicates a problem.