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First, find a comfortable position. You may feel better if you sit down, or are propped up in bed. You may find a pillow helpful. Do whatever feels best.
When you are comfortable, try to breathe in slowly through your nose, and out gently through your mouth or pursed lips.
When
you breathe out, it should take twice as long as when you breathe in.
Now, keep your shoulders and upper chest as relaxed as you can while
you do the following exercises…
Exercise 1
- Put your hands on either side of your chest.
- Breathe out through your mouth. As you do this, feel your ribs sinking as far as possible.
- Breathe in through your nose or mouth. Feel your ribs expand, then gently breathe out again.
- Repeat this exercise six times, if you can.
Exercise 2
Try to relax the top of your chest and shoulders.
- Breathe out gently. Feel your lower ribs move down and in.
- Breathe in. Feel your ribs expand and your stomach rise.
- Repeat this exercise six times, if you can.
Practise the exercises every so often until you can do them almost without thinking.
Doing these exercises regularly (every couple of hours or so) may help to ease your breathlessness.
