Steam Therapy and Beyond: Natural Remedies for Breathing Issues

Research and experts both believe that the cool air coming from the fan reduces breathing problems. For this, it is better to use a small hand-held fan.

(Read more - First aid for difficulty breathing)

Research shows that consumption of caffeine relaxes the muscles in the windpipe of people with asthma. Due to this, the functioning of the lungs improves for up to 4 hours. It blocks those receptors of some chemicals, which cause difficulty in breathing.

Here we make it clear that caffeine should be consumed only on the advice of a doctor. This is because due to its stimulant effect, excessive consumption of caffeine can have a bad effect on health. Especially, when that person also has heart disease.

(Read more - Deep breathing exercises and their benefits)

If there is difficulty in breathing due to panic, then breathing with rounded lips is the best home remedy to cure it. Breathing in this way helps the lungs to function properly. It helps in expelling the air trapped in the lungs. Doing this at any time when experiencing difficulty in breathing provides relief. The way to do it is given below -

• First of all, relax the muscles of the neck and shoulders.
• Then take a long deep breath through the nose, the mouth should be closed at this time.
• Now give the lips a round shape, like they are made round while whistling.
• Now slowly exhale the breath through the lips four times.

(Read more - Shortness of Breath)

Sitting in this position relaxes the body and makes breathing easier. The way to do it is given below -

• Sit on a chair and place your feet on the ground.
• Then bend the chest slightly forward.
• Now place the elbows on the knees or hold the chin with the hand. At this time the muscles of the neck and shoulders should remain relaxed.
• This position is called the “tripod stance”, which means creating more space in the chest cavity for the lungs. It is also helpful in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but is not suitable for obese people.

(Read more - Yoga for Asthma)

This is an easy way to correct breathing problems, but it requires both a table and a chair. It should be done like this -

• Sitting on a chair, the feet should be level on the floor. The face should be facing the table.
• The chest should be pushed forward and the arms should be rested on the table.
• The head should be rested by placing an arm or a pillow on the table.
• This position is another form of tripod breathing and creates more space in the lungs.

(Read more - First aid for difficulty breathing)

Standing in this way helps the body and the air passage to relax. The way to do it is as follows -

• Stand near a wall and keep your hips close to the wall.
• Spread your legs shoulder-width apart and keep your hands on your thighs.
• As soon as your shoulders relax, bend forward and keep your hands in front.

(Read more - Respiratory failure)

This position can be done with the help of a table. It can be done like this -

• Stand near a table or other furniture, but keep in mind that this furniture should be just below the shoulder height.
• Rest by placing your hands or elbows on it.
• Then rest your head on your arms and relax your shoulders.

(Read more - Importance of Respiratory Rate)

Some people have trouble breathing due to sleep apnea, due to which the person wakes up again and again. Due to this, he is not able to sleep properly. Therefore, sleep on the side with a pillow between your legs. This position relaxes the body and the respiratory tract, which reduces breathing problems.

(Read more - First aid for drowning)

Diaphramatic breathing can also help in curing shortness of breath. The method of doing this is given below -

• First of all, sit comfortably on a chair, at this time the shoulders, head and neck should be relaxed.
• Put your hand on the stomach.
• Breathe slowly through the nose.
• Now round the lips and exhale through the mouth. While exhaling, the stomach should go inwards.
• One should focus more on exhaling than inhaling. Exhaling should take more time than inhaling.
• This process has to be repeated for 5 minutes.

(Read more - Respiratory Distress Syndrome)