Hi, my name is Rachel Williams, I am a clinical specialist respiratory physiotherapist and the team lead of the Integrated Community Respiratory Team based in Liskeard Hospital. My team help manage patients with chronic respiratory conditions and provide pulmonary rehabilitation. I live in the Parish; I’m out in all weather walking my 2 dogs!
Everyone feels out of breath at some time. You might get out of breath after heavy physical activity or exertion such as walking briskly up a steep hill or cycling fast. This is the sort of breathlessness you might expect and you can control. Whether it comes out of the blue or is there every day, breathlessness can be very frightening. Sometimes people don’t tell their doctor or nurse about feeling out of breath as they feel responsible and don’t realise there is help available.
If you are breathless doing everyday activities, taking longer to do things or even avoiding doing things because you get out of breath, it’s time to see your doctor.
There can be lots of underlying causes to breathlessness and not all of them are due to problems in your lungs. The conditions that cause long-term breathlessness can often be treated, although not fully reversed. With appropriate support, you can learn to control your breathlessness, allowing you to live your life better.
The most common scale used to measure breathlessness is the Medical Research Council (MRC) breathlessness score. Chose the grade that describes you when you are at your best.
| Grade | Degree of breathlessness related to activity |
|
1 |
Not troubled by breathless except on strenuous exercise |
|
2 |
Short of breath when hurrying on a level or when walking up a slight hill |
|
3 |
Walks slower than most people on the level, stops after a mile or so, or stops after 15 minutes walking at own pace |
|
4 |
Stops for breath after walking 100 yards, or after a few minutes on level ground |
|
5 |
Too breathless to leave the house, or breathless when dressing/undressing |
What can I do to manage my breathlessness?
- If you smoke, get help to quit Get a flu jab every year
- Try some breathing techniques. There are various techniques that you can use to help control your breathing. Ask your GP or practice nurse to refer to the respiratory team.
- Be more physically active
- . If you have a lung condition, you can be referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. If you have a heart condition, you can be referred to cardiac rehabilitation. These classes help you to get control over your breathlessness, get you fitter and are lots of fun.
- Drink and eat healthily and manage your weight. If you carry excess weight you will require more effort to breathe and move around, and it will be more difficult to get control over your feelings of breathlessness.
- Get treatment if you feel stressed or anxious. Mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy can really help. The respiratory team in East Cornwall can help with this.
- Use the right medication in the right way. Make sure you know how and when to use your inhalers- don’t be afraid to ask.
- If you take tablets or capsules or liquids to control your breathing make sure you know why you are taking them.
- If you have a respiratory condition you might have a rescue pack of antibiotics and steroids so you can start treatment early if you have a flare up. These should come with a written action plan- make sure you understand it.
Useful links:
British Lung Foundation: www.blf.org.uk British Heart Foundation: www.bhf.org.uk British Thoracic Society: www.brit-thoracic.org.uk Local breathers and breathe easy groups can be found in Liskeard, Pensilva, Looe, Saltash, Launceston and Torpoint.