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How to breathe when you are short of breath
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How to breathe when you are short of breath

Pursed lip breathing helps you use less energy to breathe. It can help you relax. When you are short of breath, it helps you slow the pace of your breathing and can help you feel less short of breath.

Use pursed lip breathing when you do things that make you short of breath, such as:

  • Exercise
  • Bend
  • Lift
  • Climb stairs
  • Feel anxious

You can practice pursed lip breathing anytime. Try to practice 4 or 5 times a day when you:

  • Watch TV
  • Use your computer
  • Read a newspaper

How to do Pursed lip Breathing

The steps to do pursed lip breathing are:

  1. Relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders.
  2. Sit in a comfortable chair with your feet on the floor.
  3. Inhale slowly through your nose for 2 counts.
  4. Feel your belly get larger as you breathe in.
  5. Pucker your lips, as if you were going to whistle or blow out a candle.
  6. Exhale slowly through your lips for 4 or more counts.

Exhale normally. DO NOT force the air out. DO NOT hold your breath when you are doing pursed lip breathing. Repeat these steps until your breathing slows.

Alternative Names

Pursed lip breathing; COPD - pursed lip breathing; Emphysema - pursed lip breathing; Chronic bronchitis - pursed lip breathing; Pulmonary fibrosis - pursed lip breathing; Interstitial lung disease - pursed lip breathing; Hypoxia - pursed lip breathing; Chronic respiratory failure - pursed lip breathing

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References

Celli BR, Zuwallack RL. Pulmonary rehabilitation. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 105.

Minichiello VJ. Therapeutic breathing. In: Rakel D, ed. Integrative Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 92.

Schwartzstein RM, Adams L. Dyspnea. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 29.

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Patient Instructions

Review Date 1/12/2020

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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