Have you ever felt shortness of breath or tiredness while pushing hard training? These show that the body is working hard to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells to produce the energy needed for strenuous movements. However, exercise intolerance is associated with extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. This is not common at your age and can occur even during light activities. If you have exercise intolerance, you will have a hard time building stamina, unlike someone who is simply ill.
Exercise intolerance can affect your quality of life, but there are ways to relieve symptoms depending on the underlying cause. Exercise intolerance is associated with long Covid or Post-Covid syndrome, so more and more people are experiencing these symptoms.
Exercise intolerance is still relatively unknown. It covers everything you need to know about the signs, causes, and treatments for exercise intolerance. We also asked experts to dig deeper into the science behind why these symptoms occur.
What is exercise intolerance?
So what is exercise intolerance? “Exercise intolerance is the inability to exercise or perform physical activity typical of an individual’s age,” explains Hallie Zwibel, a DO doctor and director of the Center for Sports Medicine. New York Institute of Technology (Opens in a new tab).. “It’s different from people who are” sick “because they don’t exercise regularly. People who are intolerant to exercise cannot build the stamina they need for exercise. Exercise can be even more uncomfortable for people in this condition. “
You may notice significant changes in exercise tolerance, such as decreased stamina after a period of severe illness.
Exercise intolerance: Symptoms
Exercise intolerance occurs when you try to engage in activities, but your body struggles to keep up with the demands. “”Symptoms vary, but are often composed of shortness of breath, increased heart rate, leg weight and malaise, general malaise, and weakness, “said UT Southwestern Internal Medicine Professor and Texas Health Press Veteran. Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine.
Symptoms of exercise intolerance may sound familiar if you have challenged yourself during training. So what’s the difference? Exercise intolerance is more extreme and occurs during light activities and daily work. In addition, other symptoms such as discoloration of the skin may occur. A lack of the bright red substance oxyhemoglobin can cause the skin to appear blue or purple. Post-exercise fatigue can be debilitating if you have exercise intolerance. It’s hard to tell if you’ve pushed yourself too hard, as some people have delayed onset of symptoms.
What Causes Exercise Intolerance?
Dr. Levine explains that if there is a problem with the oxygen cascade process, symptoms of exercise intolerance appear. In this process, oxygen enters the lungs and diffuses into the bloodstream. The heart sends this oxygen to the muscles, which convert it into energy. Problems at any stage of the process can lead to symptoms of exercise intolerance. Often the cause is the underlying condition. Here are some common ones.
Heart problem
According to Zwibel, exercise intolerance is often a symptom of “a condition of the heart where oxygenated blood does not reach the tissues that need it.”
Exercise intolerance is the main symptom of heart failure. In this condition, it is difficult for the heart to fill with blood during the relaxed stage of the heartbeat. As a result, the heart transports insufficient oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. When you exercise yourself, demand exceeds supply. That is, you may experience symptoms such as extreme fatigue.
Respiratory condition
It is not only the heart but also the lungs that affect exercise performance. Both organs play an important role in supplying energy to your muscles. “Respiratory conditions can affect the ability of the lungs to move air in and out of the body and take oxygen from the lung sac into the blood,” explains Dr. Levine. It is not surprising that exercise intolerance is associated with symptoms such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Post-virus fatigue
Recovery from a viral infection takes time — you may feel tired for weeks or months afterwards. “Exercise intolerance after a viral infection is associated with a Covid-19 infection,” says Zwibel. “Exercise intolerance may continue even after the symptoms of acute Covid-19 have disappeared. This mechanism remains unclear, but may be related to lung or heart problems.”
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that is often overlooked, experiencing persistent and extreme fatigue, even when first awakened. It affects your ability to carry out your daily activities.According to, strenuous movements such as exercise can be challenging for people in this state. American Society of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Opens in a new tab)..
Can Exercise Intolerance Be Treated?
If you are diagnosed with exercise intolerance, you may be wondering if it can be treated. Fortunately, in most scenarios you can make changes to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
“”The first step is to understand what has changed and ask why individuals have exercise intolerance, “says Dr. Levine. “Some problems require specific treatments. For example, if a patient has coronary artery disease, stent or bypass surgery may be needed. In the case of asthma, to dilate the pulmonary airway. Drugs may be needed. Once a particular problem is resolved, a dedicated plan for rehabilitation and exercise training is essential to restore normal functioning. “
It is best to seek help from a medical professional who can provide personalized advice. Remember to listen to your body — you will want to be aware when you reach the limit. If you slow down when you first start experiencing the symptoms of fatigue, you can pinch the symptoms of buds.
If you have exercise intolerance, exercise can be a problem. Health professionals can advise if exercise is beneficial to you. Adaptations such as shorter and lighter training under supervision can reassure you.
