A medical professional has issued a caution regarding a frequently overlooked symptom that many individuals experience but often disregard.

Dr. Robert Kelly emphasized that while chest pain might come to mind, the real concern is actually shortness of breath. “Experiencing difficulty breathing when climbing hills, speaking, or with minimal exertion should prompt you to consult a cardiologist,” he advised through a TikTok clip.

The NHS acknowledges that shortness of breath can stem from a variety of causes, such as asthma, respiratory infections, being overweight, smoking habits, or even anxiety-induced panic attacks.

However, it can also signal more severe health issues. “Shortness of breath might indicate serious conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung scarring known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, heart failure, or lung cancer,” the NHS warns on its website.

As is the case with health concerns, shortness of breath may have multiple potential causes, each varying in seriousness. Therefore, the NHS advises, “Avoid self-diagnosing the reason behind shortness of breath—consult a GP. The appropriate treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your symptoms.”

The NHS further underlines the necessity of visiting a GP if:

• Your shortness of breath gets worse when you’ve been doing your normal activities, or when you lie down
• You feel short of breath and have swollen ankles
• You’ve been coughing for 3 weeks or more

“It’s important to get medical advice to make sure it’s nothing serious,” it adds. “You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting it checked out.”

Meanwhile, you should contact 111 if:

• You have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
• You feel sick or are being sick
• You’re coughing up blood
• You have pain or swelling in 1 of your legs
• You have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest

Writing in response to Dr Kelly, one TikTok user shared their story. “Totally agree, I’m what I thought was fit but started getting out of breath doing tasks lifting etc. Next thing I know it’s a quadruple bypass.”

Similarly, a second person revealed: “I was getting short of breath under strain, got checked, two weeks later triple bypass passed, doing well now.” 

“So glad to hear you’re doing well now – that’s exactly why sharing these stories matters,” Dr Kelly noted. “Recovery doesn’t stop after surgery, it’s about protecting your heart long-term.”

While a third reported: “I can’t walk up a flight of steps without being out of breath. Stress test came back normal. However, Im also overweight and very sedentary job.”

To this, Dr Kelly advised: “Thanks for sharing this – and it’s good your stress test came back normal. Still, breathlessness is always worth discussing with your own GP or cardiologist, especially if it’s limiting day-to-day life.”