Physiotherapy Department
Breathlessness Patient Information
Date of issue: July 2025
Introduction
The aim of this leaflet is to provide advice on the many things you can do to control and improve breathlessness
Breathing Exercises
When you are short of breath, it’s very easy to adapt your breathing in order to compensate. However, this can often be unhelpful and can make your breathing feel more difficult. It is important to practice getting your breathing under control. You can do this by
- Find a comfortable relaxed position
- Drop your shoulders, letting them relax completely.
- Breathe in slowly keeping your shoulders relaxed. You should feel your lower ribs and stomach rise slightly.
- Let the air out gently.
Practice for a few minutes every day and try using this exercise to control your breathing during activities that make you breathless.
Pacing
Pacing can help you achieve more through saving energy and controlling your breathlessness. Try the following ideas:
- Plan your day – Spread out demanding activities and plan in rest periods so that you rest before you become tired.
- Prioritise tasks and leave non-essential jobs for another day
- Save energy – Sit down during tasks such as ironing or cutting vegetables.
- Stay in control – Slow down and take frequent rests, Learn to stop and perform the breathing exercise before you become very breathless. E.g. if you struggle climbing the stairs stop for a rest halfway up.
Exercise and physical activity
Keeping fit will make your body use oxygen more efficiently and can improve breathlessness. Try any of the following:
- Go for a walk
- Climbing stairs
- Marching on the spot
- Punching the air with your arms 10 times
- Anything else that gets you out of breath such as vacuuming.
‘Blow as you go’ Technique
It is common for people to hold their breath and tense up during strenuous tasks such as lifting, shopping or standing up from a low chair. This makes the body use more oxygen because so many muscles are working at once.
Help your muscles to stay relaxed by blowing out during strenuous activities such as lifting heavy objects or standing up. This should make you less breathless.
Relaxation
Breathlessness can be very frightening and can make you anxious. This in turn can make you more breathless. Some people find relaxation can help
Find a comfortable position, close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere nice such as on a beach. Focus on this nice place while you perform the breathing exercise
Positions to ease breathlessness
Sit in a relaxed position with your arms gently resting in your lap. Try to relax your shoulders and let them drop downwards.
Sit on a chair and place a pillow on a table in front of you. Rest your arms and head on the pillow and relax.
Lean with your back on a wall and relax your neck and shoulders, breathing from your stomach.
Try using these positions when you are breathless and during your breathing exercises
Accessible formats
If you require this information in a community language or alternative format such as Braille, audio, large print, BSL, or Easy Read, please contact the Equality and Human Rights Team at: email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130. For people with a hearing or verbal impairment you can also contact the team through the NHS Fife SMS text service number on 07805800005.
Learn how to create a shortcut to a web page you visit regularly -
Video - create a shortcut icon on your mobile phone.
