Managing Breathlessness
Objectives:
At the end of the session, the participant will have:
- Increased understanding of the causes of breathlessness.
- Increased ability to evaluate their own level of breathlessness.
- Increased skills in managing breathlessness.
- Reduced sense of anxiety or fear when experiencing breathlessness.
- Increased ability to safely exercise when breathless.
Facilitator:
This session may be facilitated by a respiratory nurse or physiotherapist.
Topic | Content | Resources |
---|---|---|
Introduction to normal breathing. | Anatomy of the respiratory muscles. | Lung model / diagrams. Better Living with COPD (Ch 2). |
Inspiration andexpiration. | Diaphragm. Accessory muscles. Prolonged expiration. | Demonstration. |
Dyspnoea. | Fear associated with dyspnoea. Panic attacks. Normal with exercise and exertion. Not correlated with oxygen levels. | Diagram of cycle of inactivity and dyspnoea Better Living with COPD (Ch 12). |
Methods to control dyspnoea. | Slow down. Relaxed positions. Relaxed controlled breathing techniques. Tips for managing panic attacks. | Diagrams. Breathing Control Techniques. Modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale. Better Living with COPD (Ch 12). Topic 3 from the Better Living with your Lung Disease DVD ‘ Managing Your Breathlessness’; |
Summary and discussion. |