Seven home remedies for shortness of breath
Last reviewed Wed 30 Aug 2017
By Lana Burgess
Reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
Shortness of breath, or breathlessness, is when a person has trouble taking in enough air to breathe. It can range from mild to severe.
The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. Despite being common, it can be uncomfortable and distressing to experience. Fortunately, when it is not a sign of a more serious condition, it can often be managed at home.
This article explores remedies for shortness of breath that people can try at home. It also looks at the causes of breathlessness and when a person should see a doctor.
Treating shortness of breath at home
When people know what is causing their shortness of breath and it is not a medical emergency, they may want to try treating it at home.
The following exercises can help treat breathlessness at home:
1. Deep breathing
Shortness of breath is known as dyspnea.
Breathing in deeply through the abdomen can help someone manage their breathlessness. To do this at home, they should:
lie down, putting their hands on their abdomenbreathe in deeply through their nose, expanding their abdomen and letting the lungs fill with airhold their breath for a couple of secondsbreathe out slowly through the mouth, emptying their lungsrepeat this pattern for 5 to 10 minutes
This exercise can be done several times a day, or as often as the individual experiences shortness of breath. It is best to keep breathing slowly and easily, and deeply rather than quickly.
2. Pursed-lip breathing
Another breathing exercise that can help to relieve shortness of breath is pursed-lip breathing.
Pursed-lip breathing helps to reduce breathlessness by slowing the pace of a person’s breathing. This is particularly useful if shortness of breath is being caused by anxiety.
To try pursed-lip breathing at home, a person should:
sit upright in a chair with their shoulders relaxed press their lips together, keeping a gap between them in the middleinhale through their noise for a couple of secondsgently exhale through their pursed lips for a count of fourcarry on inhaling and exhaling in this way for 10 minutes
People can try this exercise any time they feel short of breath, and repeat it throughout the day until they feel better.
Why can’t I take a deep breath? Causes and treatment
Being unable to take a deep breath could be a sign of several respiratory problems. Find out more.
3. Finding a comfortable and supported position
Finding a comfortable and supported position to stand or lie in can help someone relax and catch their breath. If shortness of breath is being caused by anxiety or by over-exertion, this treatment is particularly helpful.
The following positions can relieve pressure on a person’s airways and improve their breathing:
sitting forwards in a chair, preferably with the head supported by a tableleaning against a wall so the back is supportedstanding with the hands supported on a table, to take the weight off the feetlying down with the head and knees supported by pillows
4. Using a fan
Research found that using a handheld fan to blow air across the nose and face could reduce the sensation of breathlessness. Feeling the force of air while inhaling made it feel like more air is getting in. The treatment was found to be effective in reducing the sensation of breathlessness
Researchers did not find that the use of a fan actually improved symptoms when they were caused by an underlying condition, however.
5. Inhaling steam
Inhaling steam can help to keep a person’s nasal passages clear, which can help them breathe more easily. Heat and moisture from steam may also break down mucus in the lungs, which might also reduce breathlessness.
To try steam inhalation at home, a person should:
fill a bowl with very hot wateradd a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus essential oilplace their face over the bowl, with a towel over their headtake deep breaths, inhaling the steam
It is important to make sure that the water is left to cool slightly if it has just boiled. Otherwise, the steam could scald the skin.
6. Drinking black coffee
Coffee may be used as a home remedy to help treat shortness of breath.
Drinking black coffee may help to treat breathlessness, as the caffeine in it can reduce tiredness in the muscles in a person’s airway.
Some research has found that caffeine’s effects slightly improve the way the airway functions in people with asthma. This can be enough to make it easier for them to take in air.
However, it is important to remember that drinking too much coffee can increase a person’s heart rate. It is best to watch caffeine intake when trying this treatment, to make sure not too much is drunk.
7. Eating fresh ginger
Eating fresh ginger or adding some to hot water as a drink, may help reduce shortness of breath caused by a respiratory infection.
One study has shown that ginger may be effective in fighting the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections.
What causes shortness of breath?
Some people may experience shortness of breath suddenly and for just a short period of time. Others may experience it more regularly.
Shortness of breath that occurs regularly may have a common cause, or could be the result of a more serious underlying condition.
Shortness of breath that occurs suddenly might mean someone needs emergency treatment.
The different causes behind shortness of breath are explored below.
Common causes
Shortness of breath that happens every now and then can be caused by:
being overweight or out of shapesmokingallergens or pollutants in the airextreme temperaturesstrenuous exerciseanxiety
Underlying conditions
Regular shortness of breath may be caused by a more serious condition that affects the heart or lungs.
The heart and lungs help carry oxygen around the body and get rid of carbon dioxide. As such, conditions that affect how they function can also affect a person’s breathing.
Underlying conditions that affect the heart and lungs and can cause shortness of breath include:
asthma,anemia,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), abnormal heart function,lung cancer, lung diseases, such as a pleurisy or Tb
Acute causes
There are also some causes of acute or sudden shortness of breath that indicate a medical emergency. These include:
severe allergic reactions, choking, heart failure, heart attack ,enlarged heart,blood clot in the lungs,pneumonia,carbon monoxide poisonings, foreign object inhaled into the lungs
Lifestyle changes
Depending on the cause of the breathlessness, there may be changes that people can make to their lifestyle to improve their symptoms.
Exercise to improve fitness levels may help to improve breathing.
These changes include:
losing weight, if obesity is linked to breathing problemsexercising to improve fitness levelsavoiding exercise in hot conditions or at high altitudes quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smokeavoiding allergens and pollutantssticking to treatment plans for underlying conditions
When to see a doctor
Some people experience mild shortness of breath regularly and will have the cause diagnosed by a doctor. If a doctor has already diagnosed the cause, trying one of the home treatments above can be a safe course of action.
When someone experiences shortness of breath for the first time without knowing why, they should speak to a doctor. Only a doctor can give a proper diagnosis.
In some cases, shortness of breath is of a cause of immediate concern. A person should seek medical attention straightaway if they:
are experiencing sudden, severe shortness of breath have tightness or pain in the chest.
Keep staying healthy guys!
