Shortness of breath, medically known as “dyspnea”, is a condition in which a person breathes more difficult or uncomfortable than normal. This condition usually manifests itself with complaints of air hunger, tightness in the chest, or inability to breathe deeply. Shortness of breath can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Acute shortness of breath develops suddenly and may require rapid intervention. Chronic shortness of breath usually increases gradually over time. People who feel like they can’t breathe enough look for methods that will cure shortness of breath.
What causes shortness of breath?
Conditions that cause shortness of breath can be quite diverse and develop depending on both physical and environmental factors. Here are the leading causes of shortness of breath:
- asthma attack
- COPD
- Tumors blocking the windpipe
- smoking
- obesity
- coronavirus
- Diaphragm diseases
- Pneumonia
- lack of conditioning
- Serious heart diseases
- Congenital hole in the heart
- Environmental factors
- Anxiety or panic attack
- Anemia
- Having a high body mass index
- Pregnancy
- allergic reaction
Shortness of breath is a health problem that makes daily life difficult and limits a person’s activities. Early diagnosis of the underlying causes of this condition and timely application of appropriate treatment play a critical role in preserving quality of life. If diseases that cause shortness of breath are not detected in time, they can progress and cause more serious problems. Therefore, symptoms of shortness of breath should not be ignored and should be evaluated by a specialist.
What is good for shortness of breath?
There are a number of effective methods to relieve shortness of breath and promote comfortable breathing. These techniques are applied to open the airways, reduce stress and increase lung capacity. Here are some methods that can be good for shortness of breath:
- Quitting tobacco use: Cigarette smoke irritates the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Quitting smoking contributes to the improvement of lung functions.
- Pursed-lip breathing: In this technique, you take a deep breath in through your nose while inhaling and exhale slowly through pursed lips. It relieves shortness of breath by slowing down air flow.
- Deep breathing from the abdomen: Deep breaths taken by actively using the diaphragm increase lung capacity and reduce shortness of breath.
- Relaxation techniques: Techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises help reduce stress-related shortness of breath.
- Consuming fresh ginger: Ginger is known for its soothing effect on the respiratory tract and is a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Drinking green tea and black coffee: Caffeine can temporarily open the airways, making breathing easier.
How to relieve shortness of breath?
Various methods are used in the treatment of shortness of breath, and it is of great importance to correctly identify the underlying cause of this condition for a definitive solution to shortness of breath. The treatment plan is shaped according to the origin of the disease and is arranged under expert control. If a person is overweight, he or she is encouraged to lose weight; because excess weight puts extra load on the respiratory system. Likewise, if you smoke, quitting this habit is one of the most important steps to improve lung health.
In cases where shortness of breath is caused by respiratory diseases such as asthma or COPD, the focus is primarily on the treatment of these diseases. Controlling attacks and regular use of appropriate medications relieves breathing difficulties.
If shortness of breath is caused by a heart-related problem, treating the heart disease becomes a top priority. In conditions such as heart failure, insufficient blood pumping to the body can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs and shortness of breath. Therefore, shortness of breath is relieved with cardiac treatment.