The autumn season has arrived, and with it comes a surge in respiratory illnesses, likely due to the fluctuating hot and cold temperatures. Those with respiratory issues may experience difficulties breathing during the colder months. In light of this, it's important to prioritize your respiratory health during this season.
Breathing difficulties can arise from lung disorders, including asthma and heart disease, as well as environmental allergens. Shortness of breath may be a symptom of a severe health condition.
Dyspnea is the sensation of breathing discomfort and the inability to breathe fully, which can occur either gradually or suddenly. This category does not encompass minor breathing problems like post-exercise fatigue.
Multiple conditions can lead to breathing difficulties, including stress and anxiety.
Frequent episodes of shortness of breath or the sudden onset of severe breathing difficulties may indicate a significant medical ailment that requires immediate medical attention. It is recommended that you consult your physician regarding any breathing difficulties.
Common Diseases That May Cause Breathing Difficulties
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition with the potential to affect people of all ages. It is caused by inflammation and muscular constriction around the airways, leading to breathing difficulties.
The symptoms comprise coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, varying in intensity and frequency over time.
Although this condition can be severe, the adequate management through personalized therapy leads to an optimistic prognosis.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that rapidly affects the lungs. The lungs contain small sacs known as alveoli, which normally contain air and facilitate breathing. In the case of pneumonia, the alveoli become congested with pus and fluid leading to painful breathing and decreased oxygen supply.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
It includes:
- emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
- chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways
COPD is a widespread illness that mostly affects middle-aged or older individuals who smoke. Many people are unaware of having it.
The Importance of Respiratory Rehabilitation
Respiratory rehabilitation is very important for people with chronic lung disease. Respiratory rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehabilitation, is an important branch of rehabilitation medicine, especially with the emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia as a major global public health and safety event.
Patients with chronic respiratory diseases often exhibit respiratory muscle weakness, which can be improved through respiratory muscle strength training to improve sputum coughing ability, reduce respiratory work and improve ventilation efficiency. Thus, respiratory training equipment can play a great role in long-term chronic diseases and the patient group with active cooperation.
Currently, the respiratory trainers often used in medical institutions are mostly resistance-type respiratory aids, including airflow resistance instrument and threshold resistance instrument. The patient needs to increase the intrathoracic pressure according to the resistance setting to overcome the resistance to achieve the purpose of training respiratory muscle strength. The general situation needs to dynamically increase the inspiratory muscle training load, often need to monitor the pressure of the doctor and prescribe training, at present most of the inspiratory muscle training.
Lepulse has designed an at-home, reusable, portable smart breathing trainer that accurately measures lung capacity and works both inhalation and exhalation muscles for long-term home use by people with chronic conditions. Link to learn more: https://lepulsefit.com/products/smart-breathing-trainer-for-respiratory-muscle-training-lung-recovery-exerciser
What else treatment options are available?
For people with chronic respiratory conditions, here are some tips to help relieve breathing difficulties in your daily life:
- Lifestyle changes can help improve the symptoms of COPD.
- Quit smoking or e-cigarettes. This is the most important thing to do. Even if you have smoked for years, quitting still helps.
- Try to stay away from second-hand smoke or smoke from indoor cooking fires.
- Try to prevent your lungs from getting infected and be careful to stay away from your allergens
- Stick to a physical activity routine.
Conclusion
Remember that respiratory illnesses are very common and there is no need to be overly concerned. If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, remember to seek prompt help from a healthcare professional.
