Are you short of breath?

It may be a simple case of asthma or a serious heart condition. Here's when to report it.

You take a brief walk up some stairs and find yourself straining to catch your breath. Are you developing bronchitis, or an even more serious health problem? "This sort of symptom, especially if new, is almost always of concern. It could represent serious heart or lung disease," says cardiologist Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a professor at Harvard Medical School.