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| Treatments for Shortness of Breath |
Breathlessness or Shortness of breath, medically termed dyspnea,
is an uncomfortable condition that renders it difficult for you to fully
breathe air into your lungs. When your heart and lungs have problems, it can
harm your breathing. Shortness of breath can either be sudden for short periods or
over a long term like several weeks or more.
The condition can occur because of several reasons including
cold weather, stair climbing, being overweight, and underlying health
conditions. If you experience shortness of breath often or due to a medical emergency, consult your doctor. If it’s occasional, try these home remedies:
It is an exercise that helps you control shortness of breath
by enabling you to swiftly slow your breathing pace. This makes you breathe deeper and more effectively.
With pursed-lip breathing, you can release trapped air from your
lungs. If you experience breathlessness even during a difficult activity, apply
this method.
To perform pursed-lip breathing:
1. Firstly,
relax your shoulder and neck muscles
2. Breathe in
through your nose slowly twice with your mouth closed
3. Purse your
lips in a whistling position and slowly breathe out for 4 seconds.
4. Do it 10-15
times
2.
Standing
with a supported back
A standing position is also a home treatment that relaxes
your body and airways.
1. Stand beside a wall while facing away and rest your hips on that wall.
2. Position
your feet shoulder-width apart and hands resting on your thighs.
3. Keep your
shoulders relaxed and lean forward a little and have your arms dangling in
front of you.
If you rest in a sitting position, it can make your body
relaxed and breathing easier.
1. While
sitting in a chair, put your feet on the floor and lean your chest a bit
forward.
2. Relax your
neck and shoulder muscles and gently put your elbows on your knees. Hold your
chin.
4.
Drinking Black
Coffee or Ginger Tea
According to an early study, caffeine
can relax the muscles in the airways of asthma patients, improving lung
function and shortness of breath for about 4 hours.
Ginger tea helps to calm people down and soothe respiratorily
infections of the lungs. This happens thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties
found in ginger.
5. Sleeping in a Relaxed Position
A lot of people report experiencing shortness of breath while
sleeping. This can cause you to wake up frequently, limiting your sleep quality
and duration.
To treat it at home, lie on your side with a pillow
positioned between your legs. Also, elevate your head with pillows while
keeping your back straight.
You can also lie on your back while your head is elevated, with
knees bent and a pillow placed under the knees. These positions can relax your body and airways and ease breathing. Consult your doctor to check you
for sleep apnea and if recommended, start using a CPAP machine.
Lifestyle changes like quitting
smoking, avoiding exposure to pollutants, not being overweight, staying
healthy, etc can also treat shortness of breath. Treating breathlessness
at home only applies to less serious causes. More serious causes, symptoms, and
frequency, require that you consult your doctor or get a medical emergency.
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