Trouble Breathing is also called dyspnea or shortness of breath. Patients often describe it as a feeling of not getting enough air or a feeling that you cannot catch your breath, as if the room is closing in or that there is not enough air in the room.
Being short of breath can cause:
- Fear, anxiety
- Gasping
- An inablity to keep doing an activity
- A need to sit upright
- Blue or grey color in lips, fingertips or toes, end of nose, or ears
Stay calm and breathe slowly while you help the patient do the following things:
- Sit up in a chair or recliner.
- Raise head on pillows when lying in bed.
- Sit with hands on knees or on the side of the bed leaning over.
- Take slow, deep breaths, breathing in (inhale) through the nose and breathing out (exhale) slowly and gently through pursed lips (lips that are “puckered” as if you were going to whistle). This breathing exercise is like blowing bubbles and will help restore good, slow, deeper breaths to the lungs.
- Open a window, use a fan or an air conditioner, or gently fan a piece of paper several inches from the patient’s face to circulate the air near the patient.
- Apply a cool cloth to head or neck.
- Use oxygen if ordered, making sure it is turned on, the tubes or mask are in the right place on the patient’s face, the tube is not kinked, and no one is smoking.
- Give medication, including inhalers, nebulizers, pills, or liquids as ordered. Your nurse will teach you how to use the medications properly. Sometimes a small dose of liquid morphine can also help.
- Keep area quiet to decrease feelings of anxiety.
- Use relaxing activities such as prayer, meditation, calming music, massage, or other things that have helped the patient be calm in the past. Your Care Team will be able to offer suggestions, like massage, relaxation exercises, or music therapy to help.
Call Your Care Team if:
- The patient’s shortness of breath increases or does not get better with the usual treatments or medicines.
- The patient needs to use more than the normal amount of medicine or treatments to relieve shortness of breath.
- You think you need to increase the oxygen. DO NOT make any adjustments without consulting your Care Team first.
