Treatment options for breathing problems:

The treatment for breathing problems depends on the cause of the condition. Individuals may receive different treatments from their physicians depending on their diagnosis.  For mild cases of breathing problems, there are some simple steps that may help decrease the symptoms. Initially, the patient should become as relaxed and calm as possible. Family members and caregivers can help patients control their breathing and reduce their symptoms.

Some health experts recommend the pursed-lips technique to help control breathing. The simple steps are as follows:

• Purse the lips (pucker up).

• Count the seconds it takes to breathe in a normal breath.

• Exhale (keeping the lips pursed) for two times the number of seconds it took to inhale (e.g., if it took five seconds to inhale, exhale slowly for 10 seconds).

• It is best to try to create a whistling sound while you exhale.

• Avoid forcing the air out. Instead breathe in a normal but controlled manner (lips still pursed).

Another approach is the abdominal breathing technique, which may help facilitate more controlled breathing:

• Lie down face-up on a bed or on the floor.

• Bend the knees or place a pillow underneath the knees for support.

• Place one hand on the upper part of the chest.

• The other hand should be put on the center of the abdomen, near the bottom of the breastbone.

• Through pursed lips, inhale deeply and feel the abdomen expand outward.

• Slowly exhale in a controlled manner, squeezing the abdominal muscles inward and upward.

It can also help to use pillows to elevate the head and upper body at a 45-degree angle. If these techniques do not help, some individuals may want to discuss the possibility of receiving supplemental oxygen or medications such as bronchodilator inhalers. Only a physician can determine whether or not a patient needs oxygen or medications, such as opioids or sedatives, that help reduce pain or lower anxiety levels.

Shortness of breath due to congestive heart failure is usually treated with diuretics and other medications aimed at treating the underlying heart disease.  If the shortness of breath is due to fluid that has built up around the lungs because of an advanced stage of cancer, then the fluid may need to be removed. Once the fluid is removed, the individual should be able to breathe more easily.