Shortness of Breath (SOB)

Dr. Robert Hyatt director of the Mayo clinic's Pulmonary Function Laboratory stated that "the average patient has lost half of his lung function by the time he sees a doctor for shortness of breath"¹.

Breath is life. Shortness of breath equals shortness of life.

Dr. William B. Kannel a former Boston University professor of medicine and heart specialist found that" the lungs forced vital capacity (FEV1) is indirectly related to the rate of all cardiovascular diseases and to overall mortality."

Many of us are on the way toward radically reduced breathing ability and we just don't know it. For optimum quality of life it is indispensable to know which conditions are most likely to cause SOB, whether or not we can feel them on a moment to moment basis. We only realize we have lost a great deal of breath when shortness of breath gets so bad someone puts an "illness" label on it. Flat tires come a lot quicker when the tire has been worn down to the threads and so does illness and death related to shortness of breath. It will readily appear, in almost any form, when the breath is smaller, weaker, or uncoordinated and when it is at less than optimal functioning.

It's been said many times, that the average person uses about 10% of their brain. Twenty percent seems about average for lung function. To me, 20% almost classifies as shortness of breath, only most think it is "normal" and live entire lives with less then even mediocre breathing.

Shortness of breath can stem directly and indirectly from many sources. Present time problems such as heart attacks, lung disease, asthma, and suffocation are comparatively easy to observe.

Leading edge health practitioners realize there may be many aspects to shortness of breath that may not be considered by much of Western Medical Science. Poor physical conditioning, recurrent lung infections, poor posture, over-tight clothing, obesity, junk food, stress, unresolved emotional issues, toxic environment, recent surgery, prescription drug side effects, and even pictures of people we do not like, whom we are afraid of, or find extremely exciting...can as well take our breath away and cause, or exacerbate shortness of breath. SOB is largely a matter of degree and individual susceptibility.

The most important aspects from a health standpoint are the chronic types of shortness of breath that reduce lung volume, increase breath rate, hinder breathing coordination and invite unneeded effort to breathe.

Shortness of breath is much like soil erosion. It creeps up on us. But unlike erosion, SOB is largely unnoticed, because we do not know what to look for. SOB does not develop overnight and takes years to present itself and suddenly we have "attacks" of it.

What happens from say a healthy lung to the point where it is riddled with a cold, bronchitis, asthma or emphysema? There must be many tiny and incremental steps or events that lead to a larger sum total equaling what we call shortness of breath. How can we spot these almost microscopic tendencies or "speed bumps" of life?

Anything that habitually and repeatedly reduces a natural breathing volume, strength and coordination is setting the stage for appearances of varying forms of shortness of breath. More obvious versions grow and fester in our human bodies; Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and most COPD are caused by small, incremental steps, not big ones. For example someone could develop asthma just by slouching for months in a poorly ventilated environment or by engaging in repeated competitive sports like track or football.

Conditions present that indicate possible or probable SOB. Taken from the TESTS page

1. Shortness of breath.
2. Can't catch breath or deep breathing curtailed
3. Tightness or pressure in the chest?
4. Breathing feels stuck?
5. Feel a hitch, bump or lump right below your breastbone when you try to take a deep breath?
6. Breathing feels like a series of events instead of one smooth internally coordinated, continuous flow?.
7. Breathing is labored or restricted?
8. Breathing is shallow?
9. Pain between the shoulder blades?
10. Stiff neck?
11. Lump in throat
12. Shoulder tension?
13. Jaw tension
14. Tension around the eyes
15. Do you find that you are often pressing your tongue to the top of your mouth?1
16. Are you a mouth breather
17. Do you often sigh or yawn a lot?

Do you ever experience:

1. Pulsing or stabbing feeling in and around ribs?
2. Sore deep pain feeling like a band across the chest?
3. Resting pulse rate over 62?
4. Side stitches?
5. Dizzy spells or pass out?
6. Can't hear associated with any of this list?
7. Can't walk uphill and talk at the same time without getting short of breath?
8. Get tired from reading out loud?

Do you experience any of the following?

1. Get drowsy when driving a vehicle
2. Often fall asleep while watching a TV program when you would rather have stayed awake to watch the program
3. Get jet lag real bad
4. Chest pains
5. Fainting
6. Seizures
7. High blood pressure
8. Anxiety
9. Extra or missed heartbeats
10. Hyperventilation
11. Panic attacks
12. Too many thoughts that will not stop when I would like them to

Poor memory?

Belly or chest breather? Stand, place left hand on chest, right hand on belly. Breathe in: Does your left hand raise first?

Are you often:

1. Sick more than in previous years
2. In an area with bad pollution
3. In a building without open windows?
4. Sleep on a soft mattress
5. Sleeping on your stomach
6. Waking up tired
7. Taking prescription medications?

Any emotional problems?

Contributing factors or indicators of undetected SOB

1. Poor sleep
2. Poor nutrition
3. Wake up tired
4. Excess body weight
5. Stuffy nostrils
6. Mouth breathing
7. Fainting

ACTION STEPS

Many health professionals are open to developing the breath and breathing. If you have any of the above conditions there are Optimal Breathing techniques related to the way you breathe that will rapidly improve your respiration and quite probably those conditions. When you experience stronger, smoother, bigger, easier and better coordinated breathing you become stronger, more clear-headed, relaxed, and energetic. Because of the many potential reasons for shortness of breath I have created a program that addresses it in its different aspects. Due to the moment to moment need for oxygen I first focus on the physical-mechanical factors because they happen in present time and we can make changes rapidly in increased breathing volume and ease. Our programs also have optional dietary and lifestyle aspects.

FIRSTLY

YOU first may want to rule out any existing life-threatening medical conditions by seeing a licensed health professional.

SECONDLY

If: You have done this already and they have either:

1. Diagnosed your condition and given breathing work as a prescription

   or

2. Told you one of the following:
   1. There is nothing wrong with you
   2. There was nothing they could do
   3. They prescribe drugs or surgery and you would prefer to handle the problem without drugs or surgery.

Then please consider our primary approaches.

HEART ATTACKS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH

SHORTNESS OF BREATH REDUCTION AND ELIMINATION

1. Natural Healing Annual, Rodale Press p.180