How to Manage Shortness of Breath at Home

Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is an uncomfortable condition that affects the lungs and makes it hard to breathe naturally. Here are some ways to manage shortness of breath at home:

Sitting forward

Sitting forward is a form of “tripod stance”, it creates more space in the chest cavity for the lungs. Resting while sitting can relax your body making breathing easier. (1)

To perform this technique, you need to: (1)

1. Sit in a chair leaning your chest slightly forward with your feet flat on the floor.
2. Rest your elbows on your knees, keeping your shoulder and neck muscles relaxed.

This position is particularly useful for people suffering from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it may not be suitable for people who suffer from high levels of obesity. (1)

Pursed lip breathing

This technique helps with breathlessness by slowing the individual’s breathing pace. To try the pursed lip breathing technique, you need to: (2)

1. Sit upright in a chair and relax your shoulders.
2. Press your lips together, keeping a small gap between them.
3. Inhale through your nose for a couple of seconds.
4. Count to four while gently exhaling through your pursed lips.
5. Repeat this exercise a few times till you feel better.

This technique is very beneficial for people who suffer from breathlessness due to anxiety. (2)

Breathing through your diaphragm

Breathing through your diaphragm is very helpful to manage shortness of breath at home. To perform this breathing technique, you need to: (3)

1. sit comfortably and relax your body, Keeping your hands close to your abdomen.
2. breathe in slowly as you feel your abdomen move out.
3. exhale gently and feel your abdominal muscles move back in.

During this exercise, you need to ensure that you’re breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your pursed lips to get the optimum results. (3)

Consuming some caffeine

Research has shown that caffeine is very helpful in treating breathlessness at home. It widens the respiratory tract, which improves breathing. (3)

This technique is particularly useful for asthmatic patients. However, consuming too much caffeine can disrupt your sleep cycle, so use it in moderation. (3)

References:

(1) Home Treatments for Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) (healthline.com)

(2)  Shortness of breath: Home remedies, causes, symptoms, and more (medicalnewstoday.com)

(3) How to Manage Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) – eMediHealth