Chronic breathlessness: time for Cinderella to go to the ball!

What is it about?

Chronic breathlessness, disabling and persistent despite optimum treatment of the underlying condition remains poorly recognised. Once breathlessness has served its most obvious purpose of signposting to medical disease, for many patients and clinicians, the symptom is thereafter relegated to an expected part of their experience for which little can be done. However, there is a growing evidence base to support interventions targeted at the breathlessness itself to help patients living with chronic breathlessness maximise their quality of life. A vital first step is for clinicians to recognise chronic breathlessness, assess and help patients manage it. In turn this will legitimise chronic breathlessness as an entity for patients to bring to clinical attention.

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