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Postural changes to relieve breathlessness

Did you know breathlessness or difficulty in breathing may be an important indicator of various health issues? Any unusual breathlessness while climbing stairs or walking can be caused by anaemia, heart ailments and lung problems. So don’t neglect the signal your body is giving, consult your doctor at the earliest!

Once the doctor has checked you, you will be explained about the underlying medical condition and prescribed some medications. It is very important that you follow the doctor’s instructions. You should report back to the doctor if the breathlessness does not improve or if it worsens.

In this blog post, we are going to see some easy postural techniques to relieve breathlessness (dyspnoea).Breathlessness is an unpleasant sensation and its severity increases as the disease progresses, leading to significant disability and a negative effect on quality of life.

RELAXATION POSITIONS

These positions will improve the use of breathing muscles with the assistance of gravity. It helps in the normal pattern of breathing and decreases your anxiety during breathlessness.

LYING                                                                                   

  • Lie on your side with 3-4 pillows
  • Keep your head & shoulder supported
  • Relax yourself
  • Breathe in & breathe out

STANDING (fig 1)

  • Stand near the chair/table
  • Bend forward
  • Rest your hands on the chair/table
  • Relax yourself
  • Breathe in & breathe out

SITTING WITHOUT SUPPORT (fig 2)

  • Sit in chair with foot on the floor
  • Bend forward
  • Rest your elbows on your knees
  • Relax yourself
  • Breathe in & breathe out

SITTING WITH SUPPORT (fig 3)

  • Sit in chair with foot on the floor
  • Bend forward
  • Rest your head & forearm on the pillow
  • Relax yourself
  • Breathe in & breathe out

BREATHING EXERCISE

Easy steps to be followed in all the above positions to reduce and manage breathlessness

  1. Sit in relaxed position
  2. Breathe in slowly through your nose
  3. Breathe out even more slowly through your mouth
  4. Repeat the above steps 5-10 times