Relief of breathlessness: tips for patients

• Stop (speaking and moving). Give yourself time to recover your breath.
• Positioning: choose a position which will make it easier for you to breathe.
• Relax or distract (It may help to focus on a picture, a view from the window).
• Breathing techniques.

Increase lung volume

• Physiotherapists use exercise, positioning and breathing techniques to re-inflate areas of lung tissue which are collapsed (deflated).
• Smooth deep breathing is encouraged sometimes with the addition of a breath hold or sniff.
• In some cases patients may need specialist advice from a respiratory physiotherapist.