Living well with breathlessness: how clinicians can help

What is it about?

In this article we describe how clinicians can support patients and carers living with breathlessness to have better quality of life. We describe the concept of Breathing space-derived from a systematic review of 101 papers on the experience of breathlessness.

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Why is it important?

People living with breathlessness have many difficulties including physical, psychological, social and existential ones and they need the support of clinicians to help them manage better. ‘I feel like Sleeping Beauty. The hawthorn hedge has closed around me and I cannot do anything about it.’ (Carer) This article gives suggestions to clinicians on how they can support these people to achieve the Breathing space they very much need. ‘She has got me organised and now I understand how the disease works. As a result I have had a good summer. It makes me feel more resilient.’ (Patient)