Dyspnea is a condition that always requires medical attention. The accompanying feeling of breathlessness, panic usually makes breathing problems worse. That is why it is so important to know what position to take to make it easier for you to take a breath and wait for help.

A lot is said about dyspnea in the context of coronavirus infection. However, feeling short of breath and being unable to breathe are harbingers of other serious illnesses as well. The most common causes of dyspnea are bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, but the so-called Acute breathlessness, which may result from: a foreign body in the airways or pulmonary embolism.

The emergence of dyspnea requires consultation with a doctor, and if additionally chest pain, disturbances or loss of consciousness appear, an ambulance should be called immediately. It can be a direct threat to life.

What to do when suddenly we feel short of breath? When we can't catch our breath?

The National Chamber of Physiotherapists has provided a translated into Polish and adapted to Polish reality WHO guide for patients "Support in self-rehabilitation after suffering a disease related to COVID-19". This is a must for all convalescents. You can learn what to do in case of shortness of breath.

Positions that alleviate shortness of breath

  1. Side-to-side support:Lie on your side with your knees slightly bent, head and neck supported by pillows.
  2. Sitting position with tilt forward:Sit at the table and tilt your upper body forward. Rest your head and neck on (or without) a pillow, and place your arms loosely on the table.
  3. Sitting position with a forward tilt (no support):Sit on a chair and lean forward so that your elbows are on your knees or armrests.
  4. Standing position with forward leaning and support:When standing, lean forward and rest your hands on a window sill or other stable object (e.g. chair or armchair).
  5. Standing position with back support:Lean your back againstagainst the wall, let your arms drop loosely along your body. Feet should be slightly apart and approximately 30 cm from the wall.

Edit The National Chamber of Physiotherapists translated the WHO guide for patients "Support in self-rehabilitation after suffering from a disease related to COVID-19."

When talking about dyspnea, different types of dyspnea should be distinguished:

  • dyspnea at rest, i.e. shortness of breath without physical exertion. Usually, shortness of breath occurs suddenly, e.g. as a result of an asthma attack, exacerbation of COPD, pulmonary edema, with advanced ischemic heart disease;
  • exertional dyspnea occurs during exercise;
  • psychogenic dyspnea resulting from a panic attack.

It is impossible not to mention thatpanic and fear deepen the feeling of breathlessness . A patient who experiences this ailment should first calm down and call for help.

First aid in an attack of dyspnea

  1. Calm the sick person.
  2. Care is necessary - help find a comfortable position and provide fresh air.
  3. If necessary, call an ambulance.
  4. It is necessary to stay with the sick person until the ambulance arrives. If your breathlessness is caused by a panic attack, it will continue until your symptoms are resolved.
  5. If the patient's condition suddenly deteriorates, start CPR.

Category:

Respiratory system