If oxygen levels in your blood are low, shortness of breath may be treated with oxygen administered via a tube that sits under your nostrils. (4) In general, however, shortness of breath is a symptom of an underlying condition, so the best way to treat it is to take medications for that condition as prescribed and to follow any other doctor-approved plan for managing your symptoms.
In cases of advanced pneumonia, COVID-19, or other infections or lung diseases, a ventilator is sometimes necessary to breathe for the body when the lungs are failing. By blowing air, or air with extra oxygen, into the airways and then the lungs, the ventilator supports life, preserving the patient’s energy and allows them more time to fight off the infection, according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS). (15)
If you have a chronic condition that affects the lungs, such as COPD, the ALA suggests that you ask your pulmonologist (a lung specialist) about pulmonary rehabilitation, a form of outpatient treatment aimed at strengthening your lungs and muscles to improve your breathing and your quality of life. (16)
RELATED: How Does Pulmonary Rehab Help People With COPD?
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
If you have breathing difficulties, you may wonder if there are any supplements, herbal remedies, or other nontraditional treatments that might help. Small studies suggest certain alternative therapies may improve symptoms:
- Yoga According to the ATS, some research indicates that yoga can improve quality of life in people with asthma and COPD by increasing lung function and making it easier to exercise longer and more strenuously before experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. (17) It also helps relieve stress, a common asthma trigger, per the Cleveland Clinic. (18)
- Pursed Lip Breathing Simply practicing breathing in through your nose and breathing out at least twice as long through your mouth while puckering your lips (as if blowing on hot food) helps keep your airways open, according to the ALA. (19) Start by inhaling slowly to a count of two and exhaling slowly to a count of four. Increase your counts over time.
- Probiotics These living microorganisms that have health benefits “coat all of your mucus membranes, so if you’re inhaling anything you shouldn’t be, you’re going to have a good barrier to strengthen the mucus membranes against irritation,” explains Stephanie Gray, a doctor of nursing practice and co-owner of the Integrative Health and Hormone Clinic in Hiawatha, Iowa. In addition, research published in the journal Mediators of Inflammation suggests that taking probiotic supplements, particularly Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyce, may reduce inflammation in the airways caused by allergic reactions, viral infections, and asthma. (20)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids Regularly consuming this healthy type of polyunsaturated fat found naturally in fish, nuts, and seeds helps reduce inflammation at a cellular level, says Gray. The National Academy of Medicine sets the adequate intake of alpha-linolenic acid, a kind of omega-3, at 1.6 grams (g) per day for men and 1.1 g per day for women, but Gray recommends higher doses — 2 g to 4 g per day in supplement form — for treating shortness of breath. (21)
Prevention of Breathing Difficulties
There are many steps you can take to help you avoid breathing problems. To start:
Stop smoking or vaping, if you do. Inhaling tobacco smoke is the major cause of lung cancer and COPD, according to the National Cancer Institute’s SmokeFree.gov website. Within two weeks of becoming tobacco-free, you could notice that you’re breathing easier. The cilia (the hairlike microscopic structures in your respiratory tract) will also begin coming back to life, boosting your ability to fight off colds and infections. (22)
Stay hydrated. “Taking in plenty of fluids helps keep the mucus in your respiratory system thin, so it can trap large particles that you breathe,” says Varner. This helps your lungs cleanse themselves.
Be active. “Like the rest of your body, vigorous activity gives your lungs a good workout, which helps expand their capacity,” Varner says.
Lose weight if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Being significantly overweight or obese (BMI is a type of measure for these categories) forces your heart and lungs to work harder, which can make breathing more difficult and aggravate conditions like COPD that are linked to shortness of breath.
Minimize your exposure to smog. Check daily air pollution forecasts in your area at AirNow.gov. Keep windows closed and limit your time spent outdoors when levels are high. A study of more than 300,000 people published in the European Respiratory Journal linked exposure to outdoor air pollution with decreased lung function and an increased risk of developing COPD. (23)
Reduce pollutants in the home. These include secondhand smoke, bleach and chemicals in cleaning products, mold from standing water, burning wood, and scented candles, according to the ALA. (24) Gray also advises airing out freshly dry-cleaned clothes by hanging them in your garage for a few days before bringing them into your home and opening your windows for a little while on days when the air quality is good.
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