It can be very scary when you feel like you can’t breathe. You may feel like you’re running out of air or just can’t breathe deeply enough. Shortness of breath, called dyspnea, is a common symptom of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic condition in which lung tissue becomes thick and stiff.
“Few symptoms are as frightening as feeling like you cannot catch your breath,” says Nirav G. Shah, MD, clinical chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. “Breathlessness can trigger anxiety, which in turn can make breathing feel even harder.”
“For individuals with a chronic lung condition like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, knowing a few simple techniques can help you regain control and reduce distress while you assess whether you need medical attention,” Dr. Shah says.
