I used to run a lot, but now I would say that I am slightly out of shape. I am not over weight, I am within healthy ranges for my BMI, but I am trying to lose 10lbs. Every time after I jog, I cough and wheeze and have a tightness in my chest. I feel that I get tired out more easily than others. Today, while running (not jogging) I began to feel out of breath and I could not run for more than 2 minutes without returning back to a walking pace. I tried to push myself to do more, and my throat/chest felt very tight and my finger nails turned blue-ish in color. Am I just out of shape or is it asthma? Should I go to my family physician?
Hello. Welcome to Chat Doctor. Your symptoms of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheeze sound like asthma. Asthma is characterized by variable airflow obstruction which means some days you will be fine and some days you will have symptoms. I recommend you undergo a pulmonary function test which requires you to breathe into a machine and your lung capacities are estimated. This will show whether you have asthma or some similar respiratory illness. Treatment can be started on basis of results of the PFT. Please do a PFT and revert with the results. Wishing you good health. Regards