My father is 76 and is always out of breath. his doctors tell him theres nothing wrong. he's been a couch potato all his life. he doesn't exercise and doesn't eat well. could not being active cause him be out of breath?

SOB: If the necessary heart and lung tests are normal which is great news, he has to change his lazy habits and try to get in shape. Maybe he would benefit from a gradual increasing walking or exercise program. In this case exercise will be his ally and not his enemy.

Quite possibly: If the docs have checked his cardiac & pulmonary functions & found no problems, his shortness of breath may be due to physical deconditioning. Is he overweight? That can contribute to the problem. Try to encourage him to improve his eating habits—lean meats, good fats, more fruits & veggies, whole grains. Walking or pool exercises with a group of friends might help motivate him to get more fit.