Living with breathlessness can affect your daily routines and the way in which you manage the daily tasks that we all need to do; getting dressed, having a shower, shopping, cooking and so on. You may notice there are times when you are more, or less, breathless. Think about the ways in which you already […]
Goal setting is a way to focus on what is important to you and a way to make a change for the better. Start with a simple goal or two for example an exercise goal could be to aim to walk to your local shop and back. Think of easy steps and how you are […]
Ignoring what your body is telling you. Getting caught by old habits and routines. It is not always easy to change the habits of a lifetime. For example if you are someone who always hurries, it is going to be a challenge for you to slow down. Not saying “No”, or not negotiating with others […]
Plan your day. Use diaries / timetables to balance activities with quieter times / rest to manage your symptoms. Listen to your body. Watch out for, and use, warning signs to set limits (for more information please see our section on What makes you breathless). Don’t keep going with something “just to get it finished” […]
Pacing should avoid the high peaks and low troughs and even out your energy level for the day. Notice how you can complete more tasks than before over a longer time. You should still be able to gradually build up exercise and activity into your day using pacing. Use of pacing helps you manage the […]
You can see that sometimes you are feeling well and can do a lot of tasks. Represented by the upward lines to each peak (over activity). If you have done too much too soon you can run out of energy and the effort makes you tired and fatigued. This is represented by the downward lines […]
Peak: feeling good and being able to do tasks. If you do not pace yourself or if you do too much this peak feeling will not last and you will start to feel tired and head down to the trough. Pacing helps you to maintain your peak for longer. Trough: the effect of doing too […]
Words you might use: Words healthcare professionals use: I am exhausted Get really breathless Not worth anything later in the day I panic… Get worried about how breathless I am Fed up and frustrated Annoyed, on edge I stay away from / stop trying to do the thing that makes me breathless Fatigue Increased breathlessness […]
Q. Which of the following statements apply to you? Select yes or no for each one. 1. I rush to get things done quickly YesNo 2. I push and push myself until I am forced to stop YesNo 3. I do things to please other people YesNo 4. I do certain things in a certain […]
