Breathlessness is a common problem and an uncomfortable experience for people of all age groups. It is a different experience for people who undergo this shortness of breath. There are ways with which one can get some relief.
Common remedies
Here are some common remedies that one can try at home to reduce breathlessness:
- Black coffee
Black coffee is quite often considered to help reduce the tightness in the muscles of the airway. It has proven to be quite a useful remedy for people suffering from breathlessness (1). It also helps to improve lung functions and one can overcome the problem of breathlessness. Although one should not consume it if it does not suit the health conditions.
- Ginger
Ginger is also an effective way that can help you to calm down. It helps to reduce the shortness of breath caused due to the infection in the respiratory tract. It has some anti-inflammatory properties that can also help to reduce inflammation in the lungs (2).
- Breathing exercises
Often one can perform some breathing techniques that can help to manage the problem of breathlessness. It can easily slow the pace of breathing. One needs to take deep breaths repetitively to calm down and feel better. It takes some time to return to a normal state but it is quite an effective way of dealing with the problem at home (3).
- Inhaling steam
Inhaling steam is one of the other options that you can opt for when you are finding it difficult to breathe. Oftentimes, there could be mucus formation in the lungs when someone is suffering from a cold. By inhaling steam, it can help break the mucus and clear the air passage which will help one to breathe more easily (4).
- Sit under the fan
When you are suffering from breathlessness, you can sit in front of the fan and calm yourself down (5). It is an effective way of dealing with discomfort and may help you calm down.
Breathlessness could also be a symptom of a much more severe condition like Asthma or COPD. For such severe breathing conditions, doctors may prescribe an inhaler. They are considered to be one of the best methods of treating asthma and COPD. Inhalers work by delivering the medication directly to the site of action, that is, the lungs. Thus, providing faster relief from symptoms.
But they should only be used as and when prescribed by a doctor.
To conclude-
Feeling out of breath after strenuous physical activities like workouts, runs etc. is completely normal. All the above-mentioned remedies may or may not work for you depending on the patient and their health condition.
If a person feels breathless while performing a non-strenuous physical activity or starts to feel breathless without any reason, they should make sure to consult a doctor for their breathing problems. This would aid in the timely diagnosis and treatment of any breathing problem.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20091514/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23123794/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/home-treatments-for-shortness-of-breath
- https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/home-remedies-breath
- https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(10)00160-0/fulltext
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/asthma/guide/treatment/