Lesson 1: Dyspnea cycle

Have you ever had been in a situation where you start to feel short of breath, then begin to panic and hyperventilate, which makes the breathlessness worse?

This is called "The Dyspnea Cycle." "Dyspnea" is a fancy term for not being able to breathe and experiencing shortness of breath that stresses the body. This turns on the body's parasympathetic nervous system (otherwise known as the “fight or flight” response), which can cause sensations that cause feelings of panic and overwhelm.

This course teaches techniques of focus, concentration and exercise to turn off this mechanism and appropriately fight the Dyspnea Cycle.

Lesson 2: Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lipped breathing is the number one, staple breathing technique that everyone with COPD should know how to use. It is probably the most simple, effective, and versatile method for preventing and treating breathlessness.

If unfamiliar with this technique, then now is the time to learn it for life! After learning the basics, pursed lipped breathing can be applied to a multitude of situations and circumstances.

Lesson 3: Short of Air (Deep Breathing)

Deep breathing is an effective technique for removing trapped air from the lungs and inhaling bigger, fuller breaths. Deep breathing can also help people remain calm and reset their breathing pattern when feeling short of breath.

This breathing technique works by filling the lungs up to maximum capacity and then slowly deflating them until every last bit of air is pushed out. This helps gets rid of any stale air trapped in the lungs, which then allows the intake of more fresh, oxygen-rich air with every breath.

Deep breathing can also help relax the body and mind feeling anxious or stressed. Since anxiety is a common precursor to worsened episodes of shortness of breath, deep breathing might even help prevent bouts of breathlessness triggered by anxiety.

Bonus: Postural Drainage Home Programme

Postural Drainage and Percussion (PD & P), also known as chest physical therapy (CPT), involves the use of gravity (specific body positioning that promotes fluid release) and percussion (a caretaker clapping the person inflicted around the region where the lungs are) to loosen the thick, sticky mucus within so it can then be removed by huffing or coughing. While one should always visit the doctor and make sure to get the proper treatment, those who can’t see one can use the techniques in The Postural Drainage Home Programme to help them cough out the fluid from the lungs and potentially recover on their own.

The goal of PD & P is to clear mucus from each of the five lobes of the lungs by moving mucus into the larger airways so that it can be coughed out.

For detailed videos showing how to do the percussion and vibrations in each of the positions try out our 21 day pulmonary rehab digital programme today!