The George Institute for Global Health recently published this short, practical video to demonstrate how breathing techniques can help reduce breathlessness caused by heart or lung disease. The simple techniques shown in this video by skilled health professionals can be practised and used whenever difficulty with breathing or shortness of breath interfere with daily activities and quality of life.
Specific techniques are explained and demonstrated so that you can use these in your practice to support your patients with self-management of breathlessness or breathing discomfort. Jump ahead to specific techniques shown:
- Diaphragmatic (or abdominal) breathing 02:01
- Breathing to help calm panic – when a person might automatically reach for their reliever inhaler but may not actually need it 04:16
- Pursed lip breathing – for worsening breathlessness in people with heart or lung disease 05:50
- Breathing for everyday life – tips for relieving breathlessness in daily activities 07:00
Share this video with your patients and connect them to additional resources such our Breathe Better Booklet.
To learn more about diagnosis of breathlessness you can participate in Diagnosis of breathlessness and treatment initiation in chronic airways disease education package on The QUAD.
Publication date: January 2025
Author: Asthma Australia