How can I help?
How can I help my patient avoid bad breathing habits?
Remember/encourage Good Breathing:
- Breathe in and out through the nose.
- Breathe slowly.
- Feel tummy rise and expand like a balloon as they breathe in.
- Keep upper chest and shoulders relaxed.
Avoid Deep Breathing:
- Deep breathing is unnecessary when the patient is not exercising or when they are at rest.
- Keep breaths slow but small (low to medium volume).
- If the patient practises deep breathing as part of a relaxation technique or to control panic, they will blow out too much carbon dioxide and risk developing symptoms of hyperventilation.
Breathing control techniques
Photographs by Wendy White
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- High side lying.
- Forward lean sitting without pillows.
- Forward lean sitting with pillows.
- Upright sitting in a chair.
- Forearm support to assist breathing using trolley.
- Forward lean standing.
- Standing with back support.
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