Physiotherapy - LUHFT wide

 

Everybody feels out of breath from time to time, especially if they have exerted themselves (e.g. during exercise).

Breathlessness in certain situations is expected and controllable and usually settles down quickly if we rest.

However, if you have a lung condition, or struggle with anxiety, then breathlessness can often seem to come on at the slightest exertion or for no apparent reason at all.

This can lead to you feeling out of control, frightened and exhausted.

People with lung conditions often feel like they struggle to breathe due to:

  • Damaged lung tissue
  • Stiff lungs
  • Floppy airways
  • Excess phlegm
  • Muscle spasm in the airways
  • Reduced lung capacity

This leaflet outlines techniques you can utilise to help you feel less breathless and in control of your breathing. This includes:        

                                                                                                                        

  • Positioning
  • Breathing Control                                             
  • Window Breathing
  • Pursed Lip Breathing
  • Pacing
  • Other General Advice                                                                                                                

Positioning

When you feel breathless, there are certain positions which help to ease your breathlessness. These positions help to optimise the muscles involved in breathing. Try some of the positions below and see which positions work best for you.

Breathing Control

With a ‘normal’ breathing pattern you should see your tummy rising and falling as you breathe in and out.

How to complete the exercise:

  1. Find somewhere comfortable to sit with your back well supported.
  2. Place a hand gently on your tummy just beneath your ribs - don’t press too hard.
  3. Take nice steady breaths and you should feel your hand rise as you breathe in and your hand lower as you breathe out
  4. Try and practice this exercise three-four times per day for four minutes.

Window Breathing

This breathing technique is helpful for getting your breathing into a more rhythmical pattern. It is also very helpful as a distraction technique for when you have an episode of breathlessness or anxiety.

1.Place your finger on the ‘dot’ in the top left of the rectangle.

2.As you breathe in, follow the line in the direction of the arrow to the next corner and breathe in for three seconds.

3.Then breathe out along the next side for five-six seconds.

4.Continue around the square following the instructions.                                                                                                                               

Pursed Lip Breathing

This technique helps you to breathe in through your nose and out through ‘pursed’ lips.

Many breathless people will adopt this method of breathing without even realising it.

Breathing using this technique helps to keep your airways open and take bigger breaths in and out.  

Pacing

People who are breathless will often rush to get a task done before they get breathless. This is counterproductive!

Pacing yourself allows you to be more in control of your breathing and enables you to continue to manage independently for longer.

Pacing Techniques include:

  • Plan your day: Don’t try to fit too much in - allow plenty of time to carry out tasks so that you don’t have to rush.
  • Pace yourself: Cut bigger tasks down into smaller manageable parts. Use your ‘positions of ease’ when you get breathless. Allow for plenty of rest periods between each task.
  • Prioritise tasks: Which tasks can wait until you feel less breathless?
  • Adapt tasks: Can you sit down to complete the task? Is there a simpler way to complete the task?
  • Delegate: Can someone help you with the task?

Other Techniques:

Hand-Held Fan:

  • This technique can help to reduce the feelings of breathlessness and give the sensation of getting more air in, helping with relaxation.
  • The air produced by the fan stimulates small nerve receptors in the face which causes the brain to slow down the rate of breathing.

Feedback

Your feedback is important to us and helps us influence care in the future.

Following your discharge from hospital or attendance at your outpatient appointment you will receive a text asking if you would recommend our service to others. Please take the time to text back, you will not be charged for the text and can opt out at any point. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

Further information

If you have any further questions or concerns about this leaflet or the exercises described, please contact your ward via:

www.uhliverpool.nhs.uk/services/wards

Other sources of information:

 

Author: Physiotherapy Department, LUHFT wide

Review date: May 2028

PI 3253 V1