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Recommended Websites

https://www.redcross.org/ — redcross.org

https://www.chestnet.org/ — chestnet.org

https://www.mayoclinic.org/ — mayoclinic.org

cancer.org

phassociation.org

https://www.thoracic.org/ — thoracic.org

pulmonaryfibrosis.org

alpha1.org

https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/stages-of-sarcoidosis/ — stopsarcoidosis.org

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm — cdc.gov/tb

lung.org

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What is Shortness of Breath ?

Breathlessness, shortness of breath, difficulty with breathing. The medical term for shortness of breath is “dyspnea-Greek difficult+breathing.” Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is an uncomfortable feeling or condition making it difficult to get enough air into your lungs.

What could be the causes shortness of breath ?

Shortness of breath can have a single cause, or it can have multiple causes.

Lungs– Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia, etc…
Heart-Irregular heart beat, low or high blood pressure, etc…
Blood- anemia and blood clots
Mind- Stress, anxiety and depression.
Body- Overweight, deconditioning and malnutrition.
Medications- using medications for correct purpose, over-use of medications and side effects of other prescribed medications.

What are some of the acute "All of a sudden" causes of shortness of breath?

Asthma
COPD flare-up or exacerbation
allergic reaction (such as from a bee sting)
carbon monoxide poisoning
heart attack
low blood pressure
pneumonia
anemia (low red blood cell count)
upper airway obstruction (throat blockage)
Congestive heart failure
abnormal heartbeat
choking
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Blood clot in lungs

What are some of the Chronic "On-going or persistant" causes of shortness of breath ?

asthma
COPD
heart function that is abnormal
obesity
lung cancer
pleurisy
pulmonary edema
pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases
pulmonary hypertension
sarcoidosis
etc…

What can I do to lessen my shortness of breath?

1. Pursed-lip breathing
This is a simple way to control shortness of breath. It helps quickly slow your pace of breathing, which makes each breath deeper and more effective.
It also helps release air that’s trapped in your lungs. It can be used any time you’re experiencing shortness of breath, especially during the difficult part of an activity, such as bending, lifting objects, or climbing stairs.
To perform pursed-lip breathing:
1. Relax your neck and shoulder muscles.
2. Slowly breath in through your nose for two counts”Smell the flowers”, keeping your mouth closed.
3. Purse your lips as if you’re about to whistle.
4. Breath out slowly and gently through your pursed lips to the count of four.”Blow out the candles”

Sitting forward
Resting while sitting can help relax your body and make breathing easier.
1. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, leaning your chest slightly forward.
2. Gently rest your elbows on your knees or hold your chin with your hands. Remember to keep your neck and shoulder muscles relaxed.
Sitting forward supported by a table.
If you have both a chair and table to use, you may find this to be a slightly more comfortable sitting position in which to catch your breath.
1. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, facing a table.
2. Lean your chest slightly forward and rest your arms on the table.
3. Rest your head on your forearms or on a pillow.
Standing with supported back
Standing can also help relax your body and airways.
1. Stand near a wall, facing away, and rest your hips on the wall.
2. Keep your feet shoulder width apart, and rest your hands on your thighs.
3. With your shoulders relaxed, lean slightly forward, and dangle your arms in front of you.
Standing with supported arms
1. Stand near a table or other flat, sturdy piece of furniture that’s just below the height of your shoulder.
2. Rest your elbows or hands on the piece of furniture, keeping your neck relaxed.
3. Rest your head on your forearms and relax your shoulders.
6. Sleeping in a relaxed position

Many people experience shortness of breath while they sleep. This can lead to waking up frequently, which can diminish the quality and duration of your sleep.
Try lying on your side with a pillow between your legs and your head elevated by pillows, keeping your back straight. Or lie on your back with your head elevated and your knees bent, with a pillow under your knees.
Both of these positions help your body and airways relax, making breathing easier. Have your doctor assess you for sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine if recommended.

Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing can also help your shortness of breath. To try this breathing style:
1. Sit in a chair with bent knees and relaxed shoulders, head, and neck.
2. Place your hand on your belly.
3. Breathe in slowly through your nose. You should feel your belly moving under your hand.
4. As you exhale, tighten your muscles. You should feel your belly fall inward. Breathe out through your mouth with pursed lips.
5. Put more emphasis on the exhale than the inhale. Keep exhaling for longer than usual before slowly inhaling again.
6. Repeat for about five minutes.
Using a fan.
Pointing a small handheld fan toward your face can help your symptoms.
Drinking coffee
A study indicates caffeine relaxes the muscles in the airways of people with asthma. This can improve lung function for up to four hours. Now don’t drink all day you could get dehydrated and/or increase heart rate.

When should i call my doctor or go to emergency department ?

Call or visit your doctor when your usual activity causes unexpected shortness of breath. Breathing difficulty should be checked by a doctor if it:

comes on suddenly and isn’t relieved with rest not relieved with usual treatment options i.e. Nebulizers, inhalers and oxygen
interferes with your daily activities
Fever of 100.5º F (38º C)
If you cough up blood
Feeling your heart beat rapidly, or have palpitations
Any new rashes on your skin
Any unusual swelling in your feet and legs
Weight gain of greater than 3 to 5 pounds in 1 week.

Shortness of breath that does not decrease with treatment or that is combined with other symptoms like chest pain needs urgent evaluation. This includes a possible emergency room visit

How to live with shortness of breath.

It can usually be controlled by:

medication
breathing techniques
exercise
supplemental oxygen

Other things you can do to prevent and control shortness of breath include:

pacing yourself
try to not hold your breath
using the pursed lips breathing technique
sitting in front of a fan, so it blows on your face
asking your doctor about pulmonary rehab
losing weight if you are overweight
avoiding exertions at elevations above 5,000 feet, unless trained
avoiding triggers that worsen asthma
avoiding exposure to pollutantsin the air, indoors and outdoors
quitting smoking, even if you’ve smoked for a long time (It reduces your risk for lung and heart disease.)
getting a routine health checkup
asking your doctor about your shortness of breath
continuing medications as prescribed
following an action plan developed with your doctor
ensuring your oxygen supply is adequate and your equipment works properly, if you rely on supplemental oxygen