Table of contents:
- How to deal with shortness of breath quickly
- 1. Breathe through the nose and mouth
- 2. Sit on a chair
- 3. Lay your head on the table
- 4. Lie down
- 5. Use a fan
- 6. Take medicine
- Can you overcome shortness of breath with herbal remedies?
- First aid methods for dealing with shortness of breath
- 1. Check the respiratory tract
- 2. Check the air in the respiratory tract
- 3. Provide respiratory support
- 4. Move to an open space with good air circulation
- 5. Check the pulse
- 6. Guiding deep breaths
Shortness of breath is one of the most common complaints. This condition causes the chest to feel very painful as if it was wrapped in a tight rope. Breath also feels shorter and sometimes accompanied by a "giggling" sound. If you have this, how do you deal with fast shortness of breath?
How to deal with shortness of breath quickly
How to deal with shortness of breath for everyone may not be the same. However, there are some simple steps you can take quickly to get back to your sigh of relief.
Here are the first aid you can do to deal with shortness of breath:
1. Breathe through the nose and mouth
Oral breathing is a simple and quick way to treat shortness of breath. Inhaling and exhaling through your mouth allows you to take in more air, making each breath deeper and more effective. Exhaling through your mouth can also help release trapped air in your lungs.
However, relieving breathing in this way cannot be arbitrary. Here's how to breathe through the mouth to overcome the symptoms of shortness of breath.
- Relax your shoulder and neck muscles.
- Slowly inhale from your nose and hold for a few seconds.
- Pucker your lips as if you were going to whistle.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth.
You can use this method any time you experience shortness of breath. Especially every time you finish lifting heavy objects, climbing stairs, bending over, and so on.
2. Sit on a chair
Another way to deal with shortness of breath is to sit in a chair. Resting while sitting can help relax your body and clear up your breathing.
When the chest begins to feel tight, immediately find a chair and sit with both feet firmly on the floor.
Lean your chest forward slightly and place your elbows on your knees. You can also support your chin with both hands. Keep your neck and shoulder muscles relaxed. Then take a slow, deep breath through your nose, and exhale slowly.
3. Lay your head on the table
Source: CheatSeat
If shortness of breath recurs while you are sitting across from the table, immediately rest your head on it as a way of dealing with this problem. For some people, this sitting position is considered more comfortable to catch their breath.
Here's the guide:
- Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your body facing the table.
- Fold your hands on the table and rest your head on your arms
- Breathe slowly through your nose, or it could be through your mouth until you feel more relieved
You can also use soft objects that are nearby as head pads.
4. Lie down
Many people experience shortness of breath while sleeping. Apart from being uncomfortable, this can also reduce the quality of your sleep.
So when you wake up feeling short of breath, while still on the bed immediately adjust your body position so lie on your back as a way of dealing with this problem.
Support your head with a pillow so that your head is higher than your heart. Slide a bolster or thick pillow under your knee. Keep your back straight and your hands straight at your sides.
This lying position helps to widen blocked airways, allowing you to breathe freely.
5. Use a fan
Research from Journal of Pain and Symptom Management reported, the flow of cool air can help smooth breathing. Well, you can direct the fan or the fan portable (grasp) to your face as a way of dealing with shortness of breath.
6. Take medicine
For people with certain medical conditions, taking medication may be the best way to deal with shortness of breath.
Some of the options for shortness of breath include inhalers, nebulizers, bronchodilators, and oral medications. However, each type of drug will be given depending on the cause of the shortness of breath you are experiencing. So, discuss with your doctor to find out which type of drug is best for your condition.
In many cases, people who have a history of asthma are more likely to experience shortness of breath when symptoms recur. Therefore, people with asthma should always carry an inhaler or oral medication wherever they go.
Can you overcome shortness of breath with herbal remedies?
The benefits of herbal medicine to treat shortness of breath are not yet known. We recommend that you consult your doctor first before consuming it and whether or not you need to use this method to deal with shortness of breath that you experience.
The doctor can check and confirm the content of your herbal medicine, as well as see how the condition of your kidneys and liver.
The indiscriminate use of herbal medicines does not rule out the possibility of worsening the health of your body.
First aid methods for dealing with shortness of breath
It is possible that you will face a situation where there are other people near you who experience shortness of breath. If this happens, what can you do?
Try to stay calm, not panic, contact the medical team. You can also use the first aid methods below to help other people who are short of breath.
1. Check the respiratory tract
Check and make sure that the airways are not blocked by anything. To find out, open the mouth of the person who is having difficulty breathing to see if there is something else in their mouth or throat that could be blocking their breathing.
2. Check the air in the respiratory tract
Pay attention to the chest of the person who is having trouble breathing, whether it is still expanding and deflating or not. In addition, check the air in your nose and mouth using your fingers. This is done to determine whether the breath is still there or not. Also check the wrist pulse.
3. Provide respiratory support
If a person is unable to breathe due to drowning, exposure to electric currents, exposure to smoke and chemicals or for other reasons but the heart is still beating and beating, then do mouth-to-mouth breathing.
However, if a person is unable to breathe due to an electric shock, before touching and making mouth-to-mouth rescue attempts, make sure that the person having difficulty breathing has been disconnected from contact with the source of the electric current.
4. Move to an open space with good air circulation
Another way to deal with shortness of breath in other people is to move the person to an open place where there is free and fresh air. Do not crowd people who are unable to breathe as this will block the circulation of the air around them.
5. Check the pulse
If you find someone fainting due to the things mentioned above, check to see if the pulse is still beating. If there is no pulse, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and make sure you understand how to do it. If there is still a pulse, but not breathing, then just give it a breath without a heart massage.
6. Guiding deep breaths
People who experience panic attacks are sometimes experienced shortness of breath. You can provide first aid to overcome shortness of breath experienced by bringing it to a quiet place and has good air circulation. Guide the person to breathe slowly, for example by counting one to ten slowly.
Try not to give too complicated or lengthy instructions. Speak in simple sentences and in a calm tone of voice.
