Holistic Approach to Treat Breathlessness

Treating breathlessness using a holistic approach of putting the patients before the disease by teaching them breathing exercises and so on, prove to be more effective.

Drug-free treatments such as breathing exercises and using a hand-held fan can be supportive in combating breathlessness experienced in advanced diseases. Palliative care is the best approach to treat breathlessness as there are no approved drug treatment in this case.//

Breathlessness is a common symptom in advanced disease and can lead to panic and anxiety for patients and their family. It can trouble people even when resting or performing light activities around the home. With our aging population and increasing multi-morbidity, the number of people affected by breathlessness worldwide is set to rise.

Dyspnea / Shortness of Breath
Dyspnea or Shortness of Breath is a medical emergency and is a condition the leaves us breathless, literally! It is usually caused by a problem in the respiratory passage or in the heart.

‘A holistic approach of putting the patients before their disease will help them to live and manage their breathlessness, and thereby reduces distress and depression among them.’

Published in the journal Thorax, the study combined the findings of existing research to better understand 'holistic' services for people with advanced disease experiencing breathlessness. These services aim to improve a person's ability to live with and manage their breathlessness by putting the person before their disease. They do this by providing information and education, psychological support, and encouraging self-management strategies that patients and their carers can continue to use.

Researchers found that patients who accessed these services were less distressed and depressed due to breathlessness. In interviews, people said they felt more in control and more confident in managing their breathlessness, were less isolated, and able to get back to their daily activities. Both patients and their carers, including family, said they appreciated the tailored education that helped them understand their breathlessness better. They particularly valued the simple management tips and the expert staff who took a dignified approach to their care.

Senior author Dr Matthew Maddocks from King's College London said: "By using breathlessness as a marker of disease burden, these services prompt input from experts across different specialties to manage symptoms and concerns using a person-centred approach. Our research uncovered the wide-range of benefits and allows us to understand what patients and their family value most."

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Professor Irene Higginson, Director of the Cicely Saunders Institute at King's College London and co-author of the research, said: "This work forms part of our programme to tackle breathlessness. This is such a neglected and frightening symptom. Imagine if every breath you took caused panic and fear and you thought you could not breathe more.

"These services contain straightforward, usually drug-free, approaches, such as information cards and plans to help at home in a crisis, practical aids and tips, as well as support for the whole person and family through palliative care. They could make a major difference to the quality of life of many millions of people in the UK."