The Breathlessness Toolkit: Non-pharmacological strategies to support patients
22nd April 2025
TouchRespiratory www.touchrespiratory.com is an online medical education resource with practical, free to access education for healthcare professionals that supports best clinical practice.
The website features a podcast interview with Professor Irene Higginson, CS International’s Scientific Director, on managing breathlessness. In addition to identifying the challenges of breathlessness, the discussion features the latest research and evidenced-based interventions for managing the condition.
Professor Higginson discusses the complex challenges of managing breathlessness, for patients and carers, and for healthcare professionals. Topics explored include non-pharmacological strategies, the value of multidisciplinary care, and how Breathlessness Support Services at King’s are transforming patient support.
The podcast signposts tools available for patients and clinicians, and Professor Higginson shares insights into the breathlessness support service initiative at King’s that is based on a multi-disciplinary team approach centred on the individual patient. Non-pharmacological approaches include the use of hand-held fans, specific breathing exercises, positioning techniques, muscle-strengthening exercises for the thigh muscles and sleep hygiene techniques.
The approach also involves engaging with patients and their informal carers and family members to prevent a cycle of disability that can lead to increasing breathlessness.
Breathlessness is very common, and it affects lots of people with different diseases, often respiratory diseases, but it can also affect people with heart disease or with neurological diseases. About two million people in the UK experience breathlessness at any one time, including severe breathlessness. There are many more who experience a more mild breathlessness, and it is a frequent cause of emergency department attendance, with estimates showing that around 20 – 30% of visits to emergency departments involve breathlessness.
“Breathlessness is a very distressing condition, and can be difficult to manage”, says Professor Higginson: “It is a very frightening symptom for many people. And for their families close to them. It often comes in episodes, in waves. It can take you unexpectedly. It can limit what people can do …. it’s really important as doctors or nurses or physiotherapists we learn to manage breathlessness better”. Professor Higginson also highlights the importance of intervening early to treat mild breathlessness, an ‘invisible’ symptom that leads to social isolation and a worsening of the condition.
Factsheets, links and further resources are available here
The SELFBREATHE website is here
Reilly CC, Maddocks M, Chalder T, Bristowe K, Higginson IJ. A randomised, controlled, feasibility trial of an online, self-guided breathlessness supportive intervention (SELF-BREATH) for individuals with chronic breathlessness due to advanced disease. ERJ Open Research 2023 9(2): 00508-2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00508-2022