Shortness of Breath with BE

This week we had such a thought-provoking conversation about supplemental oxygen use on both Facebook and Instagram. Many questions were answered, but of course, like with any rich discussion, many others remain unanswered. I look forward to more discussions and a deeper understanding.

I greatly appreciate respiratory therapist Brian weighing in and saying that not all shortness of breath is treated with oxygen.

I found an article by Kathy McNaughton that addresses this situation and gives some remedies. (Edited for length limitations)

“How can I be so short of breath, while my oxygen levels are still normal?”

Understanding the answer to that is essential in knowing how to proceed. Even if you’re extremely breathless, but your oxygen saturation levels remain in a healthy range, then supplemental oxygen is not the answer.

Instead, it’s important to know how to recover from breathlessness. Certainly, resting right away is the first step. Stop whatever you were doing that contributed to you feeling breathless. Respiratory therapist, Mark Mangus, suggests these additional actions:

Remind yourself that you know what to do. Taking action can help you overcome the anxiety that often goes along with being short of breath.

Position yourself to breathe easier. Leaning forward or bending over helps drop your abdomen away from your lungs, making breathing easier. Lean your arms on your knees or on some stationary object like the wall or a counter.

Work on controlling your breathing. If you know how to do diaphragmatic or pursed lip breathing, then do so. ”

Let’s continue to educate ourselves so that we can advocate for ourselves and others.

Always talk to your medical team before changing your medical care in any way.

#Breathlessness #Oxygen #Bronchiectasis #Asthma #COPD #primaryciliarydyskinesia