breathless when lifting arms up to hang washing

[Plum53]

Morning, I just wondered if anyone else has this happen. I find if I lift arms up Say to lift lift ladder down I get breathless . When hanging Washing on line also. I do have and have had for years a problem with my back and standing too long so not sure if this is a combination of that but also because of the blockage in my lad which is being treated with medication. This hasn’t just happened I have noticed it for quite some time and put it down to less oxygen getting through when arms raised. Thank you for reading I just wondered if this was a common problem. Kind regards

[Hidden]

Hello

I am not sure if not is a common problem or not but I would mention it to my Doctor or Consultant if I am still seeing them

Sometimes things can be nothing to worry about but always best to double check x

[Manhattan1 in reply to Hidden]

nope i’m not using that excuse 😂

[Hidden in reply to Manhattan1]

x

[Manhattan1]

hi.. you’re not alone lol… i get that feeling when standing and using hairdryer to dry my hair.. usually have to sit down on the bed until i feel better.. also when putting clean bedclothes on the bed .. and like yourself.. hanging up washing outside.. it’s a thing i’ve actually never mentioned to my GP or any docs in A&E or when i’ve seen a Cardiologist ..maybe i should lol

[ParrotLover22 in reply to Manhattan1]

Me too lol 😂. I just put it down to getting older!

[MummaSoap in reply to ParrotLover22]

I’m in my 30s and it happens to me too so not age related 🙂 I have never mentioned it specifically to anyone either and just assumed it was part of the heart problem package.

Thank you for raising this Plum53, I think I’ll bring it up during my next review. Sorry I can’t give you any advice as such - my partner does most of the washing hanging now and changing of bedsheets. If I’m having a good day I can get a small load out in one hit but I try to be sensible and take breaks if I start feeling faint etc.

Best wishes 💛

[Plum53 in reply to MummaSoap]

thank you for your comment I would be very interested in what they say so please post.

[MummaSoap in reply to Plum53]

I will let you know although my next review isn’t for several months - I’ll keep you posted 🙂

[ParrotLover22 in reply to MummaSoap]

Aww that's a completely different Story then. I am a lot older than you lol 😂. Yes, you should mention it to your Doctor!

[Yumz199725]

Ahhh sorry to hear you having this issue. What's your history with your heart?. It might be a common thing because when I lift my arms up say while I'm doing my hair like drying it I get out of breathe and standing up to long I mentioned similar issue to my consultant says nothing to do with your heart although I didn't mention bout the liftin my arms wish I had no. Anyway hopefully its nothing but maybe to be safe I would mention it to your cardiologist.

Take care ❤️

[Plum53]

thank you for taking time to reply. I am not under consultant anymore I was discharged back to GP. When I next see him I will mention it. It has been happening for a long time now. Take care

[Mentdent]

lifting your arms above your head makes it more difficult to breathe for everyone.

[Silvasava]

Bending down or lifting your arms above your head make it difficult to breathe. If your heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it should it can't supply enough oxygenated blood for the effort. I have difficulty hanging washing, getting stuff out of high cupboards and bending down for more than a few seconds. I think it's a fairly common problem

[elliebath in reply to Silvasava]

I agree. I get breathlessness walking uphill , or even fitting a kingsize duvet cover . It's a common symptom of cardio vascular disease.

[Plum53]

Thank you that’s very interesting . I thought it could be the reason.

[Silvasava]

When I feel breathless on exertion I stop, breathe in deeply through my nose, hold for a second or so and breathe out through my mouth. I do that for a few minutes until I feel OK. Breathing in through your nose means more oxygen enters your bloodstream than mouth breathing. HTH.

[Plum53 in reply to Silvasava]

Thank you I didn’t realise that.

[Debtyd]

Hiya...id defo mention it to somebody.the reason being is that it happens to me as well and apparently at 52 I'm "still so young" lol....when I went to cardiac rehab sessions I had a bit of an episode got sent home lol like ya do...the next session on exercise they told me to just focus on my leg work and don't get my arms involved..keep them down by my side...i think they said using your arms makes your heart work a bit harder than just using your legs....and to mention it to my gp and they would inform my cardiologist as well.so go see doc and play it safe x

[Walkingshoes2]

I have heart failure and have the same problem. Every time I washed my hair in the shower , I struggled to breathe, became dizzy and fell over. According to the heart failure team it's very common. I now now have a seat across the bath so that I can sit down whilst showering.

[Plum53 in reply to Walkingshoes2]

oh dear that is a worry always take your phone and keep near at hand when showering just incase

[Blearyeyed]

There are many activities that you may need to adapt even if you are on medication with Cardiovascular illnesses.Hoovering , Carrying heavy bags or weights , stairs and hillwalking are activities that you are generally told to avoid for this reason.

I was also told to avoid or adapt hanging out washing or using the washing machine , and lifting things from high shelves , moving a ladder would fit in that category.

Dizziness, Breathlessness and loss of balance can happen to everyone with heart or lung issues with many activities that require extra muscle strain or a quicker response from the circulation which is not good with Cardiovascular and many neurological disorders.

Things like standing too long to do a job , intense cardio exercise , showering or doing activities that require a lot of quick position changing will all cause symptoms even if your condition is well managed.

This is why we need to learn what our symptom triggers are and avoid those activities, or find ways to adapt doing them to make them easier.

If you can't get someone else to hang out your washing , you may need to create a line that you can alter the height of so you can hang it from a seated position from a wheelie chair with side supports, allowing you to move along the line while sitting. The basket of clothes can also be wheeled outside on the chair reducing the impact of carrying heavy objects. Having a line which is dropped and lifted via a handle turn winch rather than you lifting the heavy line on a stick is also important.

Ladders from a height are a No, No!

Climbing ladders and the possibility of dizziness is usually better avoided.

Is it possible to get someone else to do this activity, or you may need to change the type of ladder and it's weight and ease of movement if it is for a loft or area you must get to regularly.

Seats, in the shower and out if it to dry and dress on , help reduce symptoms in a shower caused by circulation and it also allows you to enjoy the shower more for longer as you aren't bothered by so many growing unpleasant symptoms. Sitting to dry hair is also important as both standing and the heat can cause symptoms triggered by your Autonomic Nervous System.

It's definitely worth looking at all the things you do regularly, delegate to others any things that are recommended to avoid , or, find the ways to adapt them. Using whatever help from other people or from aids isn't giving up , it's a sensible , proactive approach that actually helps maintain the quality of life that you have consistently each day. Creating a well paced lifestyle , balancing rest and activity and accepting some change and limitations is key to getting life with chronic health issues right .... And is actually a great Preventative way for Healthy people to avoid future problems too.

Take care

[Yumz199725 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Woah this is very helpful information because I get symptoms like breathlessness and heart beating fast and severe nausea when I am drying my hair and now I know this is common to get even when your condition is stable. Wish my consultant told me this instead of making fun of me 😔. There are alot of things that we can't do that other people take for granted I'm a carer aswell so I do all the cleaning and hoovering and after I'm sooooo exhausted but now I know that's just normal for people with cardio vascular problems. Hope your keeping well.

[Plum53]

thank you for taking the time to reply to me.

[Visitingcat]

I started getting problems raising my arms after starting to get episodes of Afib.

When we were decorating our kitchen the ceiling was done with tongue and groove boards and beams. I spent all day up and down step ladders reaching up painting it all white, loads of coats of paint.

That evening relaxing later my heart lurched and seemed to take off racing and then went into afib and would not revert. I spent the worst horribly symptomatic three months I’ve ever had till I could be cardioverted out of it.

I’d never felt so disabled by it before. Thankfully I’m now on flecainade to try and keep it at bay.

I am very, very wary of raising my arms for anything now, hanging washing and today cleaning a window I had to have a sit down afterwards. Only one window ever gets done at a time now, they all have white Venetian blinds which have to be hoovered with a hand held before cleaning the window too which all adds to the fun lol. Lots of sit down breaks till the job is finished.

Good job it doesn’t matter how long things take me now I’m retired.