Side Effect: Shortness of Breath

What is Shortness of Breath?

Shortness of breath is a distressing feeling of breathlessness and may be can be caused by cancer, its treatment, lung injury, or infection. It can be frightening for both patients and their family members and caregivers.

What does Shortness of Breath look like?

Shortness of breath may be mild or severe, and may or may not be associated with low oxygen saturations. It may be accompanied by deeper or faster breathing as one attempts to take in more oxygen.

How to treat Shortness of Breath

Non-Medication strategies for shortness of breath caused by anxiety:

• Body positioning
• Breathing techniques
• Incentive spirometer to strengthen muscles used for breathing
• A poem to recite or short saying that helps with relaxation during an episode of breathlessness
• Music
• Hand-held fan
• Visit our emotional wellness page to learn more

Medications for shortness of breath:

• Bronchodilators inhalers or nebulizers:
  • Albuterol inhaler
    • Opens up airway
• Anticholinergic inhalers or nebulizers:
  • Ipratropium, also known as Atrovent®
    • Reduces bronchospasm, which may contribute to airway narrowing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis or emphysema.. By doing so, it helps open airway
• Inhaled oxygen:
  • Used for those with documented low oxygen saturation

Shortness of breath treatments based upon underlying cause:

• Lung infections - Antimicrobial medications
• Collapsed lung - chest tube placement to restore lung function 
• Pleural effusion
  • Treat underlying cause if known (treat infection or stop medication causing it)
  • Diuretic medications, also known as water pills
  • Chest tube placement to remove fluid
• Recurrent pleural effusion - Pleurodesis