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How To Manage Acute Attacks Of

Shortness Of Breath

with C O P D

You are feeling pressured to hurry to keep up with someone while walking.

You have forgotten to pace yourself and tried to get up a flight of stairs in record time.

You just had a breathing treatment andcan feel secretions(mucus, sputum or phlegm)clogging your breathing passages.

All of these situations and some added ones of your own can lead to acute shortness of breath. What do you do? The tendency of many people is to gasp for breath.You may notice that you are using your neck and shoulders to help you breathe and you may be inhaling and exhaling for the same length of time.

For such times try the following steps: POSITION, BREATHING, RELAXATION.

POSITION - Get in a position that helps your breathing muscles work most efficiently (and takes the load off your other muscles that are not involved in breathing). Sit, leaning slightly forward, rest your arms on a table or your lap. If you are standing
and have no place to sit down, lean against a wall.

BREATHING - Get your breathing under control. Start by breathing out through pursed lips (see instructions on pursed lip breathing). Gradually breathe out for longer and longer. As this gets easier slow your breathing down even more. Remember, breathe in through the nose, not the mouth. Breathe out for twice as long as you breathe in.

RELAXATION - As you are getting your breathing under control, consciously relax all the muscles not involved in breathing. Pay special attention to your shoulders and arms.
Drop your shoulders down, let your arms go limp. Close your eyes if this helps you to relax.You may even try saying the word relax in your mind. Once your breathing is under control, resume your activity, but at a slower pace. If phlegm and mucus are your problem, spend some time on techniques to help you clear them.

A WORD OF CAUTION: Prolonged shortness of
breath more than your usual may be a sign that
something else is going on. If you cannot get your
breathing under control, or shortness of breath
seems to be increasing for you, it may be time to
contact your doctor.

Other COPD related Topics:

COPD Main Page
Breathing With COPD
Do's and Don'ts
Treatment
Respiratory Exercises

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Airway Oxygen Inc.
800-632-0730