What Causes Tiredness While Walking For Few Yards?

Posted on Thu, 4 Sep 2014

Question: I get very winded and tired just walking a 100 yards or so. I have bad knees meaning no cartlidge between my kness. My sinus' always seem stuffed up either one nostril or the other so I breathe through my mouth. I have no chest pain and it's very very humid here in Mississippi. I exercise at a health complex 3 times a week. I have no problem riding a staionary bike with resistence 7 miles each timer. I just can't walk very far without getting tired. Is this fatique just walking something to worry about. Do I have a lung problem or heart problem

Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possible anemia with peripheral vascular disease.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.

Looking at the clinical history and present query, my opinion is as follows:

1. Walking far without getting tired could be due to

a. Bad knees
b. Anemia
c. Peripheral vascular disease.

2. If it were a lung or heart problem, you would have it during the stationary bike also. It would be associated with breathlessness or chest pain.

3. Due to diabetes mellitus and age related changes, there is a possibility of atherosclerosis of your lower limb arteries. This can cause reduced circulation during your walking. Anemia and bad knees are additional stress factors.

4. Get your hemoglobin tested. If it is normal, doppler study of lower limb might be necessary. Anemia could be the important cause here, contributing more to tiredness.

5. For sinus problem, try steam inhalation twice a day twelve hours apart. It could help. Continue with your exercise. Get the hemoglobin level to start further treatment.

Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj