Experts have weighed in on fans’ concerns for the health of Strictly Come Dancing pro Aljaz Skorjanec, after the 34 year-old appeared to be extremely out of breath post performance.
The dance partner to Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, 26 was breathing heavily after their recital on Saturday night’s show, which was picked up by his microphone for fans to hear.
Strictly viewers watching at home were alarmed, urging Skorjanec to ‘get checked out’, and voicing concerns he may be ‘about to keel over with a coronary!’
Speaking to MailOnline, a top GP Dr Hana Patel has given her medical verdict on whether fans are right to be concerned about the dancer’s health — and what the problem could be.
Firstly, some heavy breathing after exercise is normal, although it is most often seen in those who aren’t particularly active or unfit, she said.
‘Occasional shortness of breath during intense exercise is expected, especially if you push your body beyond its usual limits.’
However, she said, if ‘persistent or excessive shortness of breath’ continues more than 10 minutes after exercise, it is likely to indicate an underlying issue that ‘requires attention’.
Over the weekend, former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri , 26, and partner Aljaz Skorjanec , 34, danced to Pink’s What About Us? during the shows first Icons Week
It was no wonder Aljaz was out of breath following the energetic routine which saw him and Tasha score a massive 39 points from the judges, placing them joint top of the leaderboard
One possible and common cause of breathlessness is asthma — a lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties, a tight chest and coughing.
It’s a common condition that affects 5.4 million Brits — about eight in every 100 people.
‘During an asthma attack you may feel breathless because it’s difficult to move air in and out of your lungs,’ Dr Patel explains.
But it’s not known if Skorjanec was suffering from an asthma attack.
Although it often starts in childhood, it can affect people of all ages and can develop for the first time in adults and it can be treated with an inhaler, the NHS says.
However, breathing difficulties can also be a symptom of serious lung infections, such as pneumonia — inflammation in the lungs usually caused by a bacteria— which may 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 himself tested for Covid.
It caused alarm for some Strictly viewers watching at home, who took to X to ask the dancer to ‘get checked out’
While shortness of breath is a symptom of Covid, the common cold and a blocked nose can also cause changes in breathing.
Although anxiety doe cause mental symptoms such as feeling nervous, it also can cause physical affects including faster breathing.
Breathlessness can also come on suddenly during a panic attack along with a racing heart, feeling dizzy and shaking legs, mental health charity Mind explains.
Dr Patel stresses that if you do ever feel like you are unable to breath you should seek immediate medical attention.
