If you’ve ascended a flight or two of stairs, you likely know the feeling of being out of breath once you reach the top.

It’s a common occurrence among folks of all ages and fitness abilities. But is it something to worry about?

Experts told HuffPost there are a few points to keep in mind when it comes to this phenomenon. While it can be normal, it can also be cause for concern or even a fitness challenge to try and improve. Here’s what to know:

It can be perfectly normal – going up stairs is harder on your body than walking on a flat surface

Feeling out of breath after walking up a flight of stairs is “what we call a normal physiological response,” said Dr Katherine Pohlgeers, a family medicine and sports medicine doctor at University of Louisville Health.

“Because you’ve got this increased demand on your body, you’ve got increased work – you’ve got increased oxygen demand and ventilatory requirements.”

If you’re winded for a minute or so but can easily catch your breath, it’s no cause for concern, said Karl Erickson, a performance specialist at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine.

“It’s quite normal ... you’re essentially lifting your body. You’re doing a squat or a lunge when you go up the stairs,” said Erickson, “so, definitely more effortful than just walking.”

Just how winded you are will vary; you’ll be more out of breath if you run up the stairs or walk up with a heavy suitcase than if you leisurely walked up the stairs. Some folks may not even notice the breathlessness as much as others.

“If you’ve got an elite athlete – like, I doubt Caitlin Clark gets winded going up a flight of........

© HuffPost