Doctors reveal the reason behind Strictly Star’s alarming breathing pattern
Experts have spoken out about fans’ concerns over the health of Strictly Come Dancing pro Aljaz Skorjanec after the 34-year-old appeared extremely out of breath following the performance.
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri’s dance partner, 26, was breathing heavily after their recital on Saturday night’s show, which was picked up by his microphone for fans to hear.
Strictly speaking, viewers watching at home were alarmed, urging Skorjanec to “check out,” and expressing concern that he was “about to drop over with a heart attack!”
In conversation with MailOnline, a top GP Dr Hana Patel has given her medical opinion on whether fans are right to be concerned about the dancer’s health – and what the problem might be.
First, labored breathing after exercise is normal, although it is most often seen in people who are not particularly active or unfit, she said.
“Occasional shortness of breath during intense exercise is to be expected, especially if you push your body beyond its usual limits.”
However, she said that if “persistent or excessive shortness of breath” lasts more than ten minutes after exercise, it likely indicates an underlying problem that “requires attention.”
Last weekend, former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, 26, and partner Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, danced to Pink’s What About Us? during the show’s first Icons Week
It was no wonder Aljaz was left breathless after the energetic routine in which he and Tasha scored a whopping 39 points from the judges, putting them joint top of the leaderboard.
A possible and common cause of shortness of breath is asthma – a lung condition that occasionally causes breathing difficulties, chest tightness and coughing.
It is a common condition that affects 5.4 million Britons – around eight in 100 people.
‘During an asthma attack, you may feel breathless because it is difficult to move air in and out of your lungs,’ explains Dr Patel.
But it is not known whether Skorjanec suffered an asthma attack.
Although it often starts in childhood, it can affect people of all ages and can first develop in adults and can be treated with an inhaler, the NHS says.
However, breathing difficulties can also be a symptom of serious lung infections, such as pneumonia (an inflammation in the lungs usually caused by bacteria), which can cause shortness of breath.
In most cases, patients are given antibiotics to treat pneumonia.
Some fans also urged Skorjanec – who returned this series after a two-year absence – to get tested for Covid.
It caused alarm among some Strictly viewers watching at home, who went to X to ask the dancer to ‘check out’
While shortness of breath is a symptom of Covid, colds and nasal congestion can also cause changes in breathing.
Although anxiety causes mental symptoms, such as feeling jittery, it can also have physical consequences, including faster breathing.
Breathlessness can also occur suddenly during a panic attack, along with a racing heart, feeling dizzy and shaking legs, explains mental health charity Mind.
Dr. Patel emphasizes that if you ever feel like you can’t breathe, seek medical attention immediately.
