When to see a cardiologist for shortness of breath

Top Doctors recently had the chance to speak to distinguished consultant cardiologist, Dr Thomas Heseltine. In this article here, Dr Heseltine walks us through some of the most effective breathing habits we can undertake in order to reduce the severity of shortness of breath.

What are some effective breathing habits that can reduce shortness of breath?

Bad breathing habits can make you feel out of breath, even if you haven’t exerted yourself too much. When you’re out of breath, many people instinctively try to take in more air by breathing faster. Interestingly though, most of the time, this isn’t exactly what your body needs when you are short of breath.

Quicker breaths mean you breathe through your chest rather than your whole lungs and breathing itself becomes a significant effort. This will only tire you out and make you feel worse for it.

Learning better breathing techniques, especially during exercise, can help you avoid shortness of breath and control it when it occurs. The following step-by-step technique can be highly effective when regaining your full breath:

• put one hand on your chest and one on your stomach
• slowly breathe in through your nose whilst your mouth remains closed
• breathe back out through your nose, allowing your stomach to fall gently
• use as little effort as possible to take slow, relaxed, and smooth breaths.

How can I reduce triggers of shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath is often closely linked to one’s lifestyle. You can usually avoid running out of breath by improving your general health and fitness. You can do the following to reduce their chances of being frequently out of or short of breath:

• lose weight, if obesity is adding to your breathing problems
• exercise more to improve your fitness
• avoid exercise in hot conditions or at high altitudes
• avoid allergens or pollutants
• quit smoking, and do your best to avoid second-hand smoke

When should I see a private cardiologist?

Whilst anyone can be affected by shortness of breath, you should take note if you suffer this frequently and especially whilst at rest. Shortness of breath without a clear trigger could indicate an underlying heart or lung condition, which could include one or more of the following:

• asthma
• anaemia
• abnormal heart function
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Dr Thomas Heseltein is a highly renowned consultant cardiologist. If you have noticed that you have recently been suffering from shortness of breath, it might be wise to book a consultation with him today. You can do just that via his Top Doctors profile.