Breathlessness
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About Breathlessness
Breathlessness is the feeling of being out of breath and could be a sign of illness if it occurs after a much lower amount of physical activity than would be expected.
Breathlessness is ‘acute’ if it started suddenly and ‘chronic’ if it gradually built up over a longer period of time.
Western Medicine View
The most common cause of breathlessness is being unfit, due to little exercise and is worsened by being over weight (and can be corrected by changing lifestyle).
Other common causes of acute breathlessness include: Asthma Pneumonia (chest infection), Heart failure, Lung disease and Hyperventilation. Common causes of ‘chronic’ breathlessness include: Obesity, Chronic lung disease, Anaemia, Heart failure and Asthma.
Chinese Medicine View
Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat cause obstruction to the lungs and stop the movement of Qi, so Qi builds up in the chest and causes acute breathlessness (Qi is associated with each organ and either too much or too little Qi will have a negative effect on health). External Wind is a common cause of chronic breathlessness; especially in children. This external Wind can cause interior Lung-Heat or Phlegm-Heat.
Treatment Options
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. A distinction is made between an Excess-type of breathlessness and Deficiency-type. Both types can be treated with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
Lifestyle Advice
Avoid eating too much fatty food, sugar, dairy,and raw-cold foods. As these will lead to Phlegm which will stop the movement of Qi and cause breathlessness. Try to avoid stress, as worry will weaken the Lung and Spleen and lead to breathlessness. Try not to overwork, as this will weaken Kidney-Yin (Yin refers to an insufficiency of body fluid). And will lead to chronic breathlessness.
For personalised advice on diet and lifestyle, please ask the doctor during your consultation. Please be reminded that chinalife offers free health advice. [LINK]
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