When to use pursed-lip breathing
Pursed-lip breathing can be used to avoid shortness of breath while performing activities such as lifting, walking or climbing stairs. You can also use this technique to recover from breathlessness associated with activity, anxiety or baseline shortness of breath.
Practice this when feeling well so that it comes more naturally when you are exercising or feeling short of breath.
Print the instructions for pursed-lip breathing (PDF)
When to use belly breathing
Belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing promotes relaxation, reduces respiratory muscle fatigue, reduces heart rate and blood pressure. It can be used for chronic lung disease and for anxiety and stress release.
This breathing technique helps strengthen your diaphragm, a major muscle of breathing. It also allows your chest and shoulder muscles to relax. Diaphragmatic breathing allows you to use much more of your lung capacity, which means you use less energy to breathe.
Practice this when feeling well so that it comes more naturally when you are short of breath.
Print the instructions for belly breathing (PDF)
When to use recovery breathing
This technique can be used when you have trouble catching your breath during exercise if you suffer from obstructive lung diseases like COPD. It relaxes the chest muscles, widens the chest by lifting the rib cage and expels the carbon dioxide that has become trapped in your lungs. This allows more oxygenated air to fill your lungs.
Practice this technique when you feel good so that it feels more natural when you feel out of breath from the exercise.
Print the instructions for recovery breathing (PDF)
When to use huff coughing
If you need to clear excess mucus from your airways, huff coughing can help. This technique allows mucus to separate from the lung wall and move to the central airways where it can be coughed out more easily. Doing this helps you to conserve energy when clearing mucus. You should have a tissue handy.
Practice this technique while you are well and make it part of your airway clearance regimen.
Print the instructions for huff coughing (PDF)