The pursed-lip breathing technique helps to decrease shortness of breath by preventing airway collapse, promoting carbon dioxide elimination, and reducing air trapping in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clients with COPD are taught to use this technique when experiencing dyspnea as it increases ventilation and decreases work of breathing. Regular practice (eg, 5-10 minutes 4 times daily) enables the client to do pursed lip breathing when short of breath, without conscious effect. Clients are taught the following steps:
- Relax the neck and shoulders
- Inhale for 2 seconds through the nose with the mouth closed (Option 4)
- Exhale for 4 seconds through pursed lips. If unable to exhale for this long, exhale twice as long as inhaling (Option 2).
(Option 1) Exhalation through pursed lips is done for 4 seconds, not 2 seconds, or twice as long as inhalation.
(Option 3) Inhalation is done through the nose, not the mouth.
(Option 5) Inhalation is done for 2 seconds, not 4 seconds.
Educational objective:
The pursed-lip breathing technique helps to decrease shortness of breath by preventing airway collapse, promoting carbon dioxide elimination, and reducing air trapping in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clients are taught to relax the shoulders and neck, inhale through the nose for 2 seconds with the mouth closed, and exhale through pursed lips for 4 seconds (or twice as long as inhalation).
The pursed-lip breathing technique helps to decrease shortness of breath by preventing airway collapse, promoting carbon dioxide elimination, and reducing air trapping in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clients with COPD are taught to use this technique when experiencing dyspnea as it increases ventilation and decreases work of breathing. Regular practice (eg, 5-10 minutes 4 times daily) enables the client to do pursed lip breathing when short of breath, without conscious effect. Clients are taught the following steps:
- Relax the neck and shoulders
- Inhale for 2 seconds through the nose with the mouth closed (Option 4)
- Exhale for 4 seconds through pursed lips. If unable to exhale for this long, exhale twice as long as inhaling (Option 2).
(Option 1) Exhalation through pursed lips is done for 4 seconds, not 2 seconds, or twice as long as inhalation.
(Option 3) Inhalation is done through the nose, not the mouth.
(Option 5) Inhalation is done for 2 seconds, not 4 seconds.
Educational objective:
The pursed-lip breathing technique helps to decrease shortness of breath by preventing airway collapse, promoting carbon dioxide elimination, and reducing air trapping in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clients are taught to relax the shoulders and neck, inhale through the nose for 2 seconds with the mouth closed, and exhale through pursed lips for 4 seconds (or twice as long as inhalation).
