Dyspnea or shortness of breath refers to a condition when you find it difficult to get air into your lungs. Any issue with your lungs or heart can cause breathing problems. Sometimes, the condition lasts for a short time only and resolves on its own, but on other occasions, you may experience it for long enough to require medical intervention. You can try certain home remedies for short breath in case it is not the result of a serious underlying medical condition.

Home Remedies You Can Try

You can manage your condition better by adjusting your lifestyle a little. Sometimes, you feel better simply by changing your position and helping your airways to relax. Here are some other suggestions:

1.    Diaphragmatic Breathing

Also called abdominal breathing, you can try diaphragmatic breathing to manage shortness of breath. The technique works great when your breathlessness is due to COPD.

Get on the floor and lie down with your hands on your abdomen. Relax your muscles and take a deep breath through your nose. Expand your lungs while breathing in and then hold it for a couple of seconds before exhaling slowly through your mouth. Repeat for 5-10 minutes at least twice a day for good results.

2.    Black Coffee

One of many home remedies for short breath is to drink black coffee. It works by relieving anxiety and stress. It contains caffeine that helps reduce respiratory muscle fatigue. It also helps reduce asthma symptoms.

Simply drink a couple of cups of black coffee every day to relieve breathlessness. Avoid going overboard though because black coffee can raise your blood pressure and heart rate.

3.    Steam Inhalation

Steam inhalation is a great remedy if breathlessness is the outcome of a respiratory problem. It helps decongest your nasal passages as well.

Take a bowl filled with hot water and add a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil to it. Put a towel around your head and bend over the bowl to inhale the steam. Do it for several minutes to relieve nasal congestion and improve breathing.

4.    Ginger

It works as an expectorant and treats nasal and chest congestion quite effectively. It also contains compounds that prevent the secretion of mucus, which in turn makes breathing easier.

Brew a cup of ginger tea and drink twice a day. You can make a cup simply by chopping fresh ginger slices and add a tablespoon of it to 2 cups of boiling water. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Then, add some honey and drink slowly.

5.    Beetroot

Eating beetroot is one of the best home remedies for short breath if it is caused by iron deficiency anemia. Beetroot is packed with iron and provides you with calcium, fiber, vitamins, potassium, and other nutrients as well.

Take a medium-sized beetroot and extract its juice. Now add 3 carrots, ½ sweet potato, and a handful of spinach to the juicer and blend again. Drink this juice once a day for good results.

6.    Improved Posture and Sitting Position

Simply by improving your posture and sitting position, you can improve your breathing to a great extent. This works great especially if your shortness of breath is due to over-exertion or anxiety.

Sitting forward in a chair can help relieve pressure from your airways and make you breathe better. Similarly, you can improve your breathing by leaning against the wall, lying down with your knees and head supported by pillows, and standing with your hands placed on a table.

7.    Garlic

Garlic is among the best home remedies for short breath caused by respiratory issues, such as bronchitis and asthma. It also works great to clear chest congestion.

Take some garlic cloves and boil them in milk. Take it daily until your condition improves.

8.    Figs

Figs work great to improve respiratory conditions and your overall health as well. Regular consumption of figs can improve the health of lungs and make breathing easier.

Take some figs and soak them in water overnight. Eat them on an empty stomach in the morning. Be sure to consume the water as well.

9.    Honey

Honey works as a decongestant, so it can relieve nasal and chest congestion, which in turn will help treat shortness of breath.

Take some honey and mix it in warm water. Drink it daily until you notice some relief from your symptoms.

10.   Bitter Gourd

Many studies have confirmed that bitter gourd may play a role in treating the asthma problem, which is the primary cause of shortness of breath.

Make a paste of bitter gourd and mix some honey in it. Enjoy it thrice a day to treat breathlessness.

11.   Lemon Juice

Lemon juice contains antioxidants and other compounds that help relieve asthma and bronchitis. Simply drink lemon juice on a regular basis to treat shortness of breath and other breathing issues.

Know When to Seek Medical Help

It is true that home remedies for short breath produce good results, but you should also know when to seek medical assistance. Be sure to call your doctor if you experience frequent episodes of shortness of breath, cannot sleep or stay asleep because of breathing issues, or have wheezing or tightness in your throat.

You should talk to your doctor immediately if breathlessness is accompanied by difficulty breathing while lying flat, swollen ankles and feet, wheezing, a high fever, and chills.

Be sure to call emergency service if you are having a sudden medical emergency, feeling chest pain, or finding it difficult to get enough oxygen.