How to get rid of shortness of breath: treatment with medicines, folk remedies

Shortness of breath is an extremely unpleasant symptom, which is difficult, strained breathing, sometimes accompanied by skin cyanosis. A person who encounters such a pathology immediately begins to look for medications and other means for shortness of breath. However, it should be taken into account that this condition can have many causes, so it is important to find out the cause and choose the right treatment.

How to quickly get rid of shortness of breath?

To cure the problem as quickly as possible, you need to determine why it arose. Without knowing the cause, it is impossible to recommend any miracle cure - there is no universal cure for shortness of breath. Therefore, remember rule number one: identify the disease or problem that led to dyspnea and eliminate it. For example, in case of bronchial asthma, the doctor may prescribe special inhalations to quickly relieve an attack. And in case of heart disease, you will have to undergo full drug therapy.

To speed up the recovery process, traditional medicine recipes, exercise therapy, as well as homeopathy and physiotherapy are often added to the main treatment. Again, only after consulting a doctor.

Indications shortness of breath remedies

Most often, difficulty breathing is diagnosed as a consequence of heart or lung disease. This allows dyspnea to be classified as cardiac or pulmonary.

Cardiac dyspnea is often inspiratory. It is characterized by night attacks or breathing problems as a result of physical work. The causes of cardiac problems can be:

• heart failure;
• heart defect;
• hemopericardium;
• inflammatory processes in the myocardium, pericardium;
• cardiopathy;
• coronary syndrome.

Pulmonary dyspnea occurs as a result of problems in the respiratory system, such as with the following diseases and conditions:

• pulmonary obstruction;
• bronchial asthma;
• pneumonia;
• pulmonary emphysema;
• pneumo or hemothorax;
• pulmonary artery occlusion;
• entry of various foreign bodies, liquids, etc. into the lower respiratory tract when inhaling air.

Among the rarer causes, we can highlight such pathologies as the presence of fluid in the pleural cavity, tumors and abscesses in the lungs, tuberculosis. To identify the listed diseases, it is necessary to undergo a full course of diagnostic procedures.

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Release form

In case of difficulty breathing, as in any other pathological condition, each patient uses the form of the medicine that is most suitable for him. For many people, it is especially important that the medicine is easy to carry, because shortness of breath often occurs outside the home - for example, on the way to work or during a walk.

Tablets for cardiac dyspnea, which are important to have with you at all times - as a rule, these are No-shpa, Papaverine or Euphyllin. They give a quick effect, but they should be used only after consulting a doctor.

In case of severe shortness of breath, which is close to an attack of bronchial asthma, it is necessary to inhale special anti-asthmatic substances. An inhaler for shortness of breath will help to expand the bronchi, facilitate pulmonary ventilation. Among such inhalers, Salbutamol and Ventolin are especially popular.

More powerful remedies for shortness of breath include Berotek, but one of the side effects of its use is muscle tremors. Other remedies, such as Astmopent, Alupent, also help almost immediately, but they increase the load on the heart, which can cause unpleasant consequences.

Tablets for shortness of breath in the elderly often contain corticosteroids. These are drugs such as Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, etc. In severe cases, these medications are administered as injections. In the absence of myocardial ischemia, the doctor can use subcutaneous administration of 0.5 ml of Adrenaline.

An injection for shortness of breath will also be relevant in case of a severe allergic process with shortness of breath. In such cases, you should act very quickly, since shortness of breath can develop into suffocation, with further pulmonary edema.

For mild allergies that are accompanied by shortness of breath, regular antispasmodic and antihistamine drugs can help.

Sprays and aerosols for shortness of breath often contain Euphyllin - it works great for severe shortness of breath with paroxysmal suffocation.

Before using any remedy for shortness of breath, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Names of remedies for shortness of breath

Taking into account the possible causes of the symptom, remedies for shortness of breath can be divided into cardiac and pulmonary.

Cardiac remedies for shortness of breath are used against the background of mandatory adherence to a diet and daily routine. It is extremely important to get rid of bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle - this is the key to quickly getting rid of breathing problems.

Medicines for cardiac dyspnea are prescribed depending on the specific heart disease. The groups of medications used for treatment are listed in the following table.

Diuretics	Lasix, Diacarb, Furosemide, etc.	Reduces fluid content in tissues.
ACE inhibitor drugs	Ramipril, Enalapril, Captopril	They reduce blood pressure and make the heart's work easier.
Angiotensin receptor blocking drugs	Candesartan, Irbesartan, Vasotens	They lower blood pressure and reduce vascular tone.
Beta-blockers	Bisoprolol, Nebivolol, Atenolol	Stabilize heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Aldosterone antagonist drugs	Veroshpiron, potassium cancrenoate	They have a diuretic, hypotensive and potassium-sparing effect.
Cardiotonics	Digitoxin, Amiodarone, Strophanthin K, etc.	They improve metabolic processes in the myocardium and normalize cardiac activity.
Antiarrhythmic drugs	Ibutilide, Verapamil	Stabilize the heart rhythm.

Pulmonary remedies for dyspnea are selected depending on the cause of its occurrence, the severity of the patient's condition. In addition, such medications should not only treat, but also prevent relapses.

B2-adrenergic stimulants	Terbutaline, Indacaterol, Formoterol - used for obstructive pulmonary diseases.
M-anticholinergics	Tropicamide, Pirenzepine – reduce secretion in the bronchi, decrease smooth muscle tone in the bronchi.
Methylxanthines	Theobromine, Paraxanthine – eliminate bronchospasm and relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Often used as a medicine for shortness of breath in bronchitis.
Antibacterial drugs	Penicillin, fluoroquinolone, and cephalosporin drugs suppress the development of infection if tests indicate the presence of bacteria in the bronchopulmonary system.
Glucocorticoid hormones	Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone – stop the inflammatory process, have an immunosuppressive and desensitizing effect. Often used for bronchial asthma.

The doctor may prescribe other medications at his/her discretion. This depends on the individual characteristics of the patient's body, as well as the severity and cause of the disease.

Euphyllin for shortness of breath can be used both in tablet form and inhalation form, depending on the severity of the condition. This medication almost instantly dilates blood vessels and improves their permeability: the attack subsides, and the discharge of sputum is facilitated. However, one cannot discount some side effects after Euphyllin. The drug can cause dizziness, impaired motor coordination, vomiting and reddening of the skin.

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Vasodilators for shortness of breath

Vasodilators are designed to widen and relax blood vessels, reducing their internal resistance. This action leads to a decrease in blood pressure and improved circulation.

Vasodilators are not always indicated for dyspnea - in particular, such medications are relevant for angina. They are very convenient to take during an attack of angina with shortness of breath - for example, it is enough to put a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue, or use a special aerosol.

Patients with a tendency to hypotension should not forget that vasodilators can lower blood pressure. Therefore, if a headache or dizziness occurs, further use of the drug should not be carried out: it is better to consult a doctor about treatment with other alternative medications.

How to get rid of shortness of breath at home?

It is possible to cure dyspnea at the initial stages of disease development. However, before you start treating shortness of breath at home, you still need to consult a doctor first.

Shortness of breath can be treated with folk remedies, including therapeutic gymnastics and special breathing exercises. We will tell you about all this below.

There are also a number of general recommendations that you should follow to get rid of shortness of breath faster:

1. Every day, or at least 3-4 times a week, it is necessary to do gymnastic exercises. These can be light movements and swings of the limbs, or a special set of therapeutic physical training corresponding to your disease.
2. Quality rest and sleep play an important role in restoring the nervous and cardiovascular systems. For sleep, you need to choose a quality mattress (preferably orthopedic), a comfortable pillow and bed linen. The room should be ventilated before going to bed, regardless of the time of year.
3. To stabilize the work of the heart and nervous system, you can use aromatherapy: aromatic oils from pine needles, mint, and lavender work wonderfully.
4. We must not forget about walks: fresh air, sun rays, sounds of nature are an excellent medicine for healing the whole body.
5. It is essential to monitor your diet. It should be complete, balanced, with a sufficient share of plant and dairy products. You cannot overeat and consume a lot of sweets and fats: excess weight always worsens shortness of breath and increases the load on the heart and blood vessels.
6. It is imperative to give up bad habits: neither alcohol nor smoking will help get rid of the problem.

Folk remedies for shortness of breath, recipes for shortness of breath

Folk remedies can also be used as a means of shortness of breath. However, this can only be done when dyspnea is not associated with life-threatening diseases. In case of mild manifestation of a breathing problem, folk remedies can be used as an independent treatment, and in other cases - as an addition to the main drug therapy prescribed by a doctor.

• Prepare an infusion of five tablespoons of cranberries and 0.5 liters of boiling water. After cooling, add 1-2 teaspoons of honey to the infusion. The entire infusion should be consumed throughout the day.
• Remove, sort, wash the potato sprouts, then grind them in a blender or grind them through a meat grinder. Pour alcohol over the mass and leave in a dark place for 10 days. Then take the infusion 1-3 drops three times a day.
• An infusion is prepared from the rhizome of astragalus: take 1 tbsp. of finely chopped rhizome, pour boiling water (500 ml) over it and leave for 2-3 hours. The prepared medicine is drunk three times a day, 3 tbsp.

• Any type of dyspnea can be helped by an infusion: mix a glass of olive oil and quality vodka. Drink 50 of the mixture three times a day for a month.

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Garlic for shortness of breath

Garlic can be classified as a biologically active supplement due to the fact that it contains a huge number of useful components. For example, one of the main substances in garlic is thiamine - or vitamin B ₁. This substance stabilizes the nervous system, improves the processing of sugars and facilitates the course of intracellular energy processes. However, only raw garlic that has not undergone heat treatment has such properties.

Garlic is useful for preventing acute respiratory viral infections, improving joint and liver function. But does garlic help with breathing difficulties?

Garlic helps hypertensive patients to normalize high blood pressure: it dilates blood vessels and alleviates the condition of patients. The mass of useful substances in garlic helps to eliminate the risk of thrombosis. And blood thinning is one of the methods of preventing strokes and heart attacks. Scientists have also found that one of the garlic components, allicin, is an antioxidant and can lower cholesterol levels in the blood, preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

There are many recipes in which garlic is used specifically for shortness of breath. We suggest you familiarize yourself with them.

• Lemons and garlic for shortness of breath

To eliminate shortness of breath in the elderly, the following recipe is recommended. Take a couple of medium garlic heads, peel and grind into a gruel. Pour 400 ml of dark sunflower oil over the resulting mass, mix and place in the refrigerator for storage. There is no need to infuse the remedy for shortness of breath, it is already ready for use. And use it as follows: take 1 teaspoon of the resulting garlic oil and combine with the same amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Take this mixture three times a day 30 minutes before meals for a month. To achieve a lasting effect, it is recommended to conduct three courses of treatment during the year.

• Honey, Lemon and Garlic for Shortness of Breath

Many patients use the following remedy to get rid of breathing problems:

• Take 1 tbsp. of honey, a dozen medium lemons and a dozen medium heads (namely heads, not cloves) of garlic.
• The garlic is minced, the lemons are squeezed for juice, everything is mixed and honey is added.
• Place in a closed container to infuse for one week in a dark place.
• The resulting remedy for shortness of breath is taken 4 teaspoons at a time, daily, once a day. The remedy is not swallowed immediately, but gradually dissolved in the mouth.

The prescription states that the amount of medicine obtained should be enough for about a month. This remedy is especially recommended for those people who are bothered by shortness of breath when walking.

Tinctures for shortness of breath

Hawthorn tincture improves the contractile function of the heart muscle, tones and improves coronary blood flow. Under the influence of this tincture, the feeling of heaviness and pain in the chest passes, labored breathing is relieved. This medicine can be used in the initial stages of hypertension, with heart rhythm disorders and neuroses.

Take hawthorn tincture carefully, without exceeding the recommended dosage: large doses of the drug can lead to the exact opposite effect.

It is optimal to take 30 drops of hawthorn tincture three times a day, 30 minutes before meals.

Instead of hawthorn tincture, you can successfully take motherwort tincture. Motherwort improves myocardial performance, soothes and relieves neuroses, stabilizes blood pressure. Motherwort tincture for respiratory problems is taken two to four times a day, diluting 10-30 drops of the drug in half a glass of water. Treatment can be continued for no more than 3 months in a row, after which you need to take a break.

Herbs for shortness of breath

• Tea made from blackberry leaves and twigs can help with breathing problems associated with heart disease and neuroses.
• A complex infusion of such plants as thyme, motherwort, immortelle, blackberry, and woodruff will serve as a good remedy for shortness of breath associated with nervous disorders. A mixture of the listed herbs in the amount of one tablespoon should be poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour, after which it should be drunk throughout the day instead of tea.
• If the disorder is related to cardiac asthma, then the following infusion will be useful: steam young nettle, quinoa, spring reed leaves in boiling water (3 tablespoons of the mixture per 200 ml of boiling water), leave for at least two hours. After that, you need to add half a teaspoon of baking soda and let it sit for ten days on the windowsill. The resulting medicine should be drunk 1 teaspoon daily, half an hour before breakfast. The course of therapy can last about a month.
• If breathing problems are caused by heart failure, birch leaves can help. Brew one full tablespoon of dry leaves in a glass of boiling water and filter after an hour. Add a pinch of baking soda to the infusion and take half a glass of the medicine three times a day.
• For cardiac dyspnea, use motherwort infusion. Brew 1 tbsp. of the herb in a glass of boiling water, leave for 50-60 minutes. Take 100 ml in the morning and at night. Instead of motherwort, you can also use such plants as calendula, hawthorn, lovage, lemon balm.