When you have finished viewing the video, click on the "X" box in the upper right corner to exit the video.
To return to the main program, click on the back arrow.
There are several reasons why you might be having a "Breathing Attack" or "Acute Dyspnea Attack." Essentially this is an exacerbation of dyspnea (shortness of breath) on top of whatever background of chronic dyspnea you might have. The five commonest reasons for these dyspnea attacks are:
1.) EXERTION
This is the commonest cause of a dyspnea attack. You have exerted yourself beyond the point where your lungs can provide the necessary increased ventilation to meet your increased metabolic needs (i.e. taking in more Oxygen and getting rid of more Carbon Dioxide) due to increased activity. A crucial skill you must learn is measured pacing of your activities at a slower and lower effort level, for whatever particular activity you are doing. We will discuss this in detail in another module, as well as some breathing strategies to help this problem.
2.) COUGHING UP MUCUS
Coughing is normal and necessary to clear mucus ("phlegm") from your lungs. However, should you cough up a larger blob of mucus from deep within the lung, and it sticks in the larger airways, this can precipitate a more violent coughing and choking spell. This is particularly common in the hour or two after waking up, as mucus has been accumulating overnight, and tends to be thicker and stickier. We will discuss this in detail in another module, and show you the more efficient Huff Cough technique used in COPD.
3.) BRONCHOSPASM ("ASTHMA") EXACERBATION
Bronchospasm refers to a spasm contraction of the muscles in the bronchial tubes, thereby making them narrower and therefore more restrictive as to being able to move air freely. It is commonly called an "Asthma Attack," but technically Asthma is a separate entity from COPD, though indeed there is some overlap of the two conditions. It is better to use the term "bronchospasm" if you have COPD, because directions for treating true Asthma that you might hear of, may, or may not, be appropriate for COPD. We will discuss this in detail in another module, and show you the Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) technique to inhale so-called "Rescue Medications" into your lungs for faster and more effective asthmatic or bronchospasm relief.
4.) The RESCUE BREATHING PATTERN
This is a very common breathing pattern of rapid and more forceful breathing, which develops when patients get upset or panicky. The basis for this problem is entirely psychological, but the consequences have serious physiological implications. It is often seen when patients develop some shortness of breath for whatever reason, and then become (understandably) upset, acutely precipitating this abnormal breathing pattern. This is most unfortunate, because they will then develop further dyspnea. Rapid and forced breathing is very detrimental to COPD breathing control. We will discuss this in detail in another module, and show you techniques to control this problem.
5.) DYNAMIC HYPERINFLATION
Dynamic Hyperinflation refers to overinflation of the lung, because the air you have inhaled does not have sufficient time to fully exhale, and therefore your lungs progressively inflate into a position where breathing becomes much more difficult.
Dynamic Hyperinflation is commonly seen with acute Asthma attacks, as well as COPD bronchospasm attacks. And as noted above, in COPD patients exerting themselves and breathing faster. Dynamic Hyperinflation prevention and/or correction is a major reason why breathing control techniques work in COPD. It is therefore crucial you understand this concept. We will discuss this in detail in another module, and show you techniques to control this critically important problem.