Ulcer Patient Diet

 How you eat is as important as what you eat

If you have a peptic ulcer, one of the first things will want to do is adjust your diet, opting for foods that are gentle on the stomach and avoiding food that can make peptic ulcer symptoms worse.

Peptic ulcers are painful, open sores that develop in the lining of the digestive tract, most often resulting from a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.1 Certain foods can stimulate the production of stomach acids that inflame the open sore. This not only adds to the burning, aching pain that peptic ulcers cause but can also slow healing.

By contrast, foods that are gentle on the stomach—including those that are high in fiber or probiotic bacteria—can help ease symptoms and promote healing.

This article offers a list of foods to avoid if you have a peptic ulcer as well as foods you can eat while you are on the road to recovery.

Verywell / JR Bee

Foods to Avoid With a Peptic Ulcer 

There are several rules that govern which foods you should and should avoid if you have a peptic ulcer. Foods that are spicy or acidic are clearly those you need to avoid, but there are other lesser-known culprits to consider.

This includes dairy—once considered the go-to home remedy for peptic ulcers—which can increase the amount of stomach acids as the lactose in dairy is broken down. The same applies to caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, both which can also increase acid production.3

Fatty foods are bad for you in several ways. They are harder to digest and require larger amounts of digestive acids to break them down. Saturated fats also provide H. pylori an ideal environment to thrive (unlike polyunsaturated or monosaturated fats that inhibit the growth of H. pylori).

The foods to avoid if you have a peptic ulcer include: 

When it comes to an ulcer, caffeine like tea and coffee, and even a few fruits like grapefruit and orange juices are not recommended. Because these things trigger stomach acid production which is bad for stomach ulcers. You can substitute them with herbal tea except for peppermint tea, also you can substitute them with ginger tea, coconut water, fat-free yoghurt and plant-based milk.

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• Baked goods, like cupcakes and pastries which are often high in hydrogenated fat
• Cheese, including cheese sauces
• Cream soups
  
• Citrus fruits
• Chocolate, which is rich in caffeine 
• Dairy desserts, like ice cream, custard, pudding, and milkshakes
• Fatty red meats, which are harder to digest
  
• Fried or fatty foods, including french fries, fried chicken, and chips
• Gravy and sauces, like hollandaise sauce or butter sauces
• High-sodium condiments, like soy sauce, steak sauce, and barbecue sauce
• Pineapple, fresh or canned
• Processed meats, like hotdogs, sausages, and salami
• Salad dressings, which are often fatty, spicy, or acidic
• Spicy foods, including chili or Mexican food
  
• Tomatoes, including tomato-based sauces, soups, or stews

Drinks to Avoid With a Peptic Ulcer

There are certain beverages you should avoid if you have a peptic ulcer, including:

• Alcohol, including wine coolers and hard seltzers
• Caffeinated drinks, like black tea, green tea, cola, and energy drinks
• Coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated
• Citrus drinks, including orange juice and citrus punch
• Sweetened carbonated drinks, which can increase stomach acid
• Tomato juice, including V8 and Clamato

Foods to Eat With a Peptic Ulcer 

A bland diet is generally your best bet when dealing with a peptic ulcer. These foods are low in acidity, saturated fats, and spiciness.

Another rule of thumb is to choose foods high in dietary fiber, both solubleand insoluble. Studies have shown that fiber-rich diets reduce the risk of peptic ulcers by lowering stomach acids. Foods that are rich in vitamin A have similar effects.

Foods that are probiotic (meaning they contain microorganisms beneficial to the digestive tract) can speed healing by blocking H. pylori from attaching to the lining of the stomach. Probiotic-rich foods include pickled vegetables as well as certain fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir.5

Foods rich in flavonoids are also believed to inhibit the growth of H. pylori in the gut. These plant-based nutrients are found in berries and many other fruits and vegetables.

Among the foods you can eat if you have a peptic ulcer are:

• Bean and legumes, which are fiber-rich
• Eggs, which are rich in vitamin A
• Fish, including fatty fish that are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fats
  
• Fiber-rich fruits, like apples, bananas, strawberries, and raspberries
• Flavonoid-rich foods, like cranberries, kale, broccoli, celery, and all berries
• Leafy green vegetables, which are rich in vitamin A
• Orange and yellow vegetables, like sweet potatoes and summer squash that are also rich in vitamin A
• Pickled foods, like kimchi, sauerkraut, and dill pickles
• Lean meats and poultry
• Miso, which is probiotic
• Nuts and seeds, which are a fiber-dense food
• Olive oil, and other healthy monosaturated fats
• Tofu, tempeh, and seitan, which are all probiotic
• Vegetables, like carrots, beets, and broccoli that are high in fiber
• Whole grains, including brown rice, bulgur, millet, and oatmeal
• Whole-wheat bread and pasta
• Yogurt, which is probiotic

What to Drink With a Peptic Ulcer

Plain water is ultimately the best thing you can drink if you have a peptic ulcer. Other "safe" options include:

• Caffeine-free herbals teas
• Cranberry juice
• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Yoghurt drinks

How to Eat With a Peptic Ulcer 

How you eat when you have a peptic ulcer is as important as what you eat.

The first instinct you may have when you get a peptic ulcer is to stop eating and let the stomach rest. Not only would this deprive you of much-needed nutrition, but it can also make matters worse.

Eating the right food buffers the ulcer from stomach acids. By contrast, having an empty stomach can worsen symptoms because the stomach will keep churning out acids even if there is no food in it.

To end, you need to choose foods wisely rather than cutting back on nutrition.

There are other tips that can reduce symptoms of a peptic ulcer while you are eating:

• Eat five or six smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones.
• Sit upright in a chair while eating to avoid compressing the stomach.
• Eat slowly and chew each bite thoroughly.
• Relax a few minutes before and after each meal.
  
• Have your last meal or snack at least three hours before bedtime.

Beyond Diet: How to Help a Peptic Ulcer 

In the past, people with peptic ulcers were often sent home to care for themselves until the sore healed itself. Today, the eradication of H. pylori is the central concern in the majority of cases. It is only by eliminating the bacteria that recurrence can be fully prevented.

While other things can cause peptic ulcers, such as the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), H. pylori accounts for 85% to 95% of all cases.

In addition to changes in diet, the treatment of peptic ulcers will typically involve one or more of the following:

• Antibiotics: These are prescription antibacterial drugs used in combination to kill H. pylori. Options include Flagyl (metronidazole), Amoxil (amoxicillin), clarithromycin, and tetracycline.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): These are over-the-counter and prescription drugs used to reduce stomach acids. Options include Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), and Protonix (pantoprazole).
• Histamine-2 receptor (H2) blockers: These are over-the-counter and prescription drugs aslo used to reduce stomach acids. Options include Pepcid AC (famotidine), Tagamet HB (cimetidine), and Axid AR (nizatidine).
• Antacids: These are over-the-counter agents used to neutralize stomach acids. These include Tums (calcium carbonate), Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide), and Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).
• Cytoprotective agents; These are prescription drugs ed to protect the lining of your stomach and small intestine. Options include Carafate (sucralfate) and Cytotec (misoprostol).
  

The treatment of peptic ulcers should also involve the cessation of cigarette smoking. Smoking not only aggravates ulcers but is one of the contributing risk factors for peptic ulcers.10

Summary 

There are foods you should and should not eat if you have a peptic ulcer.

Foods to avoid are those that are fried, greasy, acidic, or spicy. Dairy, caffeine, fast foods, processed food, and alcohol are also on the do-not-eat list.

Foods that are safe to eat include those that are high in fiber and low in saturated fats. Foods that are rich in flavonoids, vitamin A, and probiotics are also good as they can inhibit H. pylori, the bacteria that accounts for the majority of peptic ulcers.

Closing Note 

Living with a peptic ulcer can be frustrating, particularly since the stomach pain can rob you of your desire to eat. Even so, it is important to maintain optimal nutrition to promote healing.

If you have trouble building a balanced diet from the foods you can tolerate, speak with a nutritionist or dietitian who can help. If you're still having problems eating, speak with a specialist known as a gastroenterologist who can prescribe medications to ease your discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the fastest way to cure a stomach ulcer?

  Medications, including H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are the fastest way to heal a stomach ulcer. Both reduce stomach acid production so the ulcer can heal.

• How long does it take to heal a peptic ulcer?

  Peptic ulcers usually heal in about eight weeks. However, it is common for ulcers to recur. You can reduce the risk of recurrence by eating a bland, low-fat diet and avoiding spicy, acidic, and fatty foods.

• Is it true that one should not drink water while eating?

This question needs to be fortified. How much water? What is your situation? What is the food you are eating? These are the basic questions to be asked.

The main argument against not drinking water is that water dilutes stomach acids and interferes with the efficient digestion of food. Now here it is assumed that the stomach acid is a fixed quantity and cannot be varied. This is not a fact. The main stomach acid is bile. The bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Depending on the need of the stomach, bile is supplied to the stomach. So the supply or the quantity of bile is not restricted and thus the charge that the bile will get diluted by water does not hold any water.

Secondly, it is a well-known scientific fact that dilute acids are better solvents than concentrated acids. So diluted bile is better for digestion than concentrated bile. Of course, if there is too much dilution then it will be ineffective. You can connect this to our day-to-day life. If you want to clean the bathroom drain, you put concentrated sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid burns through the drain blockage. If you want to clean the commode, you use the same sulfuric acid in well-diluted form, as you want to dislodge or dissolve the cling-ons and not burn them.

Thirdly we begin to consume our foods much before it enters our stomach. We eat with our eyes, with our ears and with our noses. Remember how you feel hungry when you smell or see your favourite foods, or how you react to the noise of kitchen utensils when food preparation is going on? This is the trigger for your digestive system to get activated and get into action. And the whole system is ready for consuming and digesting the food that is yet to come.

Lastly, what is the food that you are eating? If you are eating dry foods, like bread, butter, rice, pizza, french fries, and foods with chilli then you require more water to be consumed on the side. If the food you are eating has lots of water in it, like soups, noodles, rice with diluted curry, and boiled vegetables then you do not need any additional water.

Finally, the general volume of the stomach is about 700 ml. At full lunch, an adult eats about 180 grams of the food. This may translate to about 300 ml of liquid food in the stomach. You can safely add 200 ml of water to it.

Peptic Ulcer Disease, What You Need to Know.

Overview

What is peptic ulcer disease?

Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which painful sores or ulcers develop in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). Normally, a thick layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from the effect of its digestive juices. But many things can reduce this protective layer, allowing stomach acid to damage the tissue.

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Who is more likely to get ulcers?

One in 10 people develops an ulcer. Risk factors that make ulcers more likely include:

• Frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a group of common pain relievers that includes ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®).
• A family history of ulcers.
• Illness such as liver, kidney or lung disease.
• Regularly drinking alcohol.
• Smoking.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes ulcers?

People used to think that stress or certain foods could cause ulcers. But researchers haven’t found any evidence to support those theories. Instead, studies have revealed two main causes of ulcers:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)bacteria.
• Pain-relieving NSAID medications.

H. pylori bacteria

H. pylori commonly infects the stomach. About 50% of the world’s population has an H. pylori infection, often without any symptoms. Researchers believe people can transmit H. pylori from person to person, especially during childhood.

The H. pylori bacteria stick to the layer of mucus in the digestive tract and cause inflammation (irritation), which can cause this protective lining to break down. This breakdown is a problem because your stomach contains strong acids intended to digest food. Without the mucus layer to protect it, the acid can eat into stomach tissue.

However, for most people, the presence of H. pylori doesn’t have a negative impact. Only 10% to 15% of people with H. pyloriend up developing ulcers.

Pain relievers

Another major cause of peptic ulcer disease is the use of NSAIDs, a group of medications used to relieve pain. NSAIDS can wear away at the mucus layer in the digestive tract. These medications have the potential to cause peptic ulcers to form:

• Aspirin (even those with a special coating).
• Naproxen (Aleve®, Anaprox®, Naprosyn® and others).
• Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®, Midol® and others).
• Prescription NSAIDs (Celebrex®, Cambia® and others).

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is not an NSAID and won’t cause damage to your stomach. People who can’t take NSAIDs are often directed to take acetaminophen.

Not everyone who takes NSAIDs will develop ulcers. NSAID use coupled with an H. pylori infection is potentially the most dangerous. People who have H. pylori and who frequently use NSAIDs are more likely to have damage to the mucus layer, and their damage can be more severe. Developing an ulcer from NSAID use also increases if you:

• Take high doses of NSAIDs.
• Are 70 years or older.
• Are female.
• Use corticosteroids (drugs your doctor might prescribe for asthma, arthritis or lupus) at the same time as taking NSAIDs.
• Use NSAIDS continuously for a long time.
• Have a history of ulcer disease.

Rare causes

Infrequently, other situations cause peptic ulcer disease. People may develop ulcers after:

• Being seriously ill from various infections or diseases.
• Having surgery.
• Taking other medications, such as steroids.

Peptic ulcer disease can also occur if you have a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (gastrinoma). This condition forms a tumour of acid-producing cells in the digestive tract. These tumours can be cancerous or noncancerous. The cells produce excessive amounts of acid that damages stomach tissue.

Can coffee and spicy foods cause ulcers?

It’s a common misconception that coffee and spicy foods can cause ulcers. In the past, you might have heard that people with ulcers should eat a bland diet. But now we know that if you have an ulcer, you can still enjoy whatever foods you choose as long as they don’t make your symptoms worse.

What are some ulcer symptoms?

Some people with ulcers don’t experience any symptoms. But signs of an ulcer can include:

• Gnawing or burning pain in your middle or upper stomach between meals or at night.
• Pain that temporarily disappears if you eat something or take an antacid.
• Bloating.
• Heartburn.
• Nausea or vomiting.

In severe cases, symptoms can include:

• Dark or black stool (due to bleeding).
• Vomiting.
• Weight loss.
• Severe pain in your mid- to upper abdomen.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are ulcers diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider may be able to make the diagnosis just by talking with you about your symptoms. If you develop an ulcer and you’re not taking NSAIDs, the cause is likely an H. pylori infection. To confirm the diagnosis, you’ll need one of these tests:

Endoscopy

If you have severe symptoms, your provider may recommend an upper endoscopy to determine if you have an ulcer. In this procedure, the doctor inserts an endoscope (a small, lighted tube with a tiny camera) through your throat and into your stomach to look for abnormalities. 

H. Pylori tests

Tests for H. pylori are now widely used and your provider will tailor treatment to reduce your symptoms and kill the bacteria. A breath test is the easiest way to discover H. pylori. Your provider can also look for it with a blood or stool test, or by taking a sample during an upper endoscopy.

Imaging tests

Less frequently, imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans are used to detect ulcers. You have to drink a specific liquid that coats the digestive tract and makes ulcers more visible to the imaging machines.

Management and Treatment

Will ulcers heal on their own?

Though ulcers can sometimes heal on their own, you shouldn't ignore the warning signs. Without the right treatment, ulcers can lead to serious health problems, including:

• Bleeding.
• Perforation (a hole through the wall of the stomach).
• Gastric outlet obstruction (from swelling or scarring) that blocks the passageway from the stomach to the small intestine.

What ulcer treatments are available?

If your ulcer is bleeding, your doctor may treat it during an endoscopy procedure by injecting medications into it. Your doctor could also use a clamp or cauterization (burning tissue) to seal it off and stop the bleeding.

For most people, doctors treat ulcers with medications, including:

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPI):These drugs reduce acid, which allows the ulcer to heal. PPIs include Prilosec®, Prevacid®, Aciphex®, Protonix® and Nexium®.
• Histamine receptor blockers (H2 blockers): These drugs also reduce acid production and include Tagamet®, Pepcid®, Zantac® and Axid®.
• Antibiotics: These medications kill bacteria. Doctors use them to treat H. pylori.
• Protective medications: Like a liquid bandage, these medications cover the ulcer in a protective layer to prevent further damage from digestive acids and enzymes. Doctors commonly recommend Carafate® or Pepto-Bismol®.

Prevention

How can I prevent ulcers?

You may be able to prevent ulcers from forming if you:

• Talk to your doctor about alternatives to NSAID medications (like acetaminophen) to relieve pain.
• Discuss protective measures with your doctor, if you can’t stop taking an NSAID.
• Opt for the lowest effective dose of NSAID and take it with a meal.
• Quit smoking.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

Outlook / Prognosis

Are ulcers curable?

For most people, treatment that targets the underlying cause (usually H. pyloribacterial infection or NSAID use) is effective at eliminating peptic ulcer disease. Ulcers can reoccur, though, especially if H. pylori isn’t fully cleared from your system or you continue to smoke or use NSAIDs.

How long does it take an ulcer to heal?

It generally takes several weeks of treatment for an ulcer to heal.

Living With

Will drinking milk help an ulcer?

No. Milk may temporarily soothe ulcer pain because it coats the stomach lining. But milk also causes your stomach to produce more acid and digestive juices, which can make ulcers worse.

Is it safe to take antacids?

Antacids temporarily relieve ulcer symptoms. However, they can interfere with the effectiveness of prescribed medications. Check with your doctor to find out if antacids are safe to take while undergoing treatment.

What should ulcer patients eat?

No foods have been proven to negatively or positively impact ulcers. However, eating a nutritious diet and getting enough exercise and sleep is good for your overall health.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

If you have stomach ulcers, you may want to ask your doctor:

• What pain reliever can I use instead of an NSAID?
• How will I know if the H. pyloriinfection is gone?
• How do we find out if the ulcer has healed?
• What can I do relieve symptoms at home during treatment?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Contrary to commonly held beliefs, ulcers aren’t caused by stress or the foods you eat. Most of the time, bacteria cause them. Doctors can treat the bacteria with antibiotics and other medications.

If you’ve been popping a lot of antacids lately, you’re constantly snacking to get rid of a gnawing pain in your stomach or you have any other signs of an ulcer, the best thing you can do for your health is to talk to your provider. Treatment can heal an ulcer in a matter of weeks.

9 Home Treatments for Shortness of Breath

 Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is an uncomfortable condition that makes it difficult to get air into your lungs. Problems with your heart and lungs can harm your breathing.

Some people may experience shortness of breath suddenly for short periods. Others may experience it over the long term — several weeks or more.

You might find yourself short of breath if you:

• have a lung condition, like pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, or COVID-19
• do intense exercise
• experience a change in temperature, for example, going from a warm room to the cold outdoors
• experience anxiety, panic, or severe stress
• are in an area with high levels of air pollution
• are at high altitude
• have obesity
• have cancer that affectsTrusted Source the lungs or are having cancer treatment, like chemotherapy

Sometimes breathlessness starts suddenly. In this case, it could quickly become a medical emergency that needs urgent attention. Possible causes include:

• carbon monoxide poisoning
• heart attack
• low blood pressure
• an asthma attack
• an allergic reaction
• a blood clot in the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism

If anyone has concerns about their ability to breathe, they or someone else should seek emergency medical help. If breathing problems persist, they can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood, and this can soon become a life-threatening emergency.

In light of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, shortness of breath has become widely associated with this illness. Other common symptoms of COVID-19 include dry cough and fever.

Most people who develop COVID-19 will only experience mild symptoms. But you should seek emergency medical attention if you experience:

• trouble breathing 
• persistent tightness in your chest 
• blue lips
• mental confusion

If a medical emergency doesn’t cause your shortness of breath, you could try several types of home treatments that are effective at helping alleviate this condition. Many simply involve changing position, which can help relax your body and airways.

Home treatments

Here are nine home treatments you can use to alleviate your shortness of breath:

Pursed-lip breathing

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This is a simple way to control shortness of breath due to panic, COPD, or hyperventilation. It helps quickly slow your pace of breathing, which makes each breath deeper and more effective. If you’re very short of breath after exercising, you should seek medical help.

Pursed breathing helps emptyTrusted Source the lungs of dead space air that occurs in COPD. It also helps release air trapped air from your lungs. You can use it any time you’re experiencing shortness of breath, especially during the difficult part of an activity, like bending, lifting objects, or climbing stairs.

To perform pursed lip breathing:

1. Relax your neck and shoulder muscles.
2. Slowly breathe in through your nose for two counts, keeping your mouth closed.
3. Purse your lips as if you’re about to whistle.
4. Breathe out slowly and gently through your pursed lips to the count of four.

Sitting forward

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Resting while sitting can help relax your body and make breathing easier.

1. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, leaning your chest slightly forward.
2. Gently rest your elbows on your knees or hold your chin with your hands. Remember to keep your neck and shoulder muscles relaxed.

This position is a form of “tripod stance,” which aims to create more space in the chest cavity for the lungs. It’s helpful if you have COPD, and you may find you do it without thinking about it. It’s not suitable for people with high levels of obesity.

Sitting forward supported by a table

If you have both a chair and table to use, you may find this to be a slightly more comfortable sitting position in which to catch your breath.

1. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, facing a table.
2. Lean your chest slightly forward and rest your arms on the table.
3. Rest your head on your forearms or on a pillow.

This position is another form of tripod breathing, which creates more space for the lungs in the chest.

Standing with supported back

Standing can also help relax your body and airways.

1. Stand near a wall, facing away, and rest your hips on the wall.
2. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and rest your hands on your thighs.
3. With your shoulders relaxed, lean slightly forward, and dangle your arms in front of you.

As with other forms of tripod breathing mentioned above, this position makes more space in the chest for your lungs.

Standing with supported arms

1. Stand near a table or other flat, sturdy piece of furniture that’s just below the height of your shoulder.
2. Rest your elbows or hands on the piece of furniture, keeping your neck relaxed.
3. Rest your head on your forearms and relax your shoulders.

In the classic “tripod” position, you can do this by placing a cane on the floor in front of you and leaning on it with both hands.

Sleeping in a relaxed position

People with sleep apnea experience shortness of breath while they sleep. This can lead to waking up frequently, which can diminish the quality and duration of your sleep.

Try lying on your side with a pillow between your legs and your head elevated by pillows, keeping your back straight. Or lie on your back with your head elevated, and your knees bent, with a pillow under your knees.

Both of these positions help your body and airways relax, making breathing easier. Have your doctor assess you for sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine if recommended.

Diaphragmatic breathing

Diaphragmatic breathing can also help manage shortness of breath.

To try this breathing style:

1. Sit in a chair with bent knees and relaxed shoulders, head, and neck.
2. Place your hand on your belly.
3. Breathe in slowly through your nose. You should feel your belly moving under your hand.
4. As you exhale, tighten your muscles. You should feel your belly fall inward. Breathe out through your mouth with pursed lips.
5. Put more emphasis on the exhale than the inhale. Keep exhaling for longer than usual before slowly inhaling again.
6. Repeat for about 5 minutes.

A 2019 study found that combining these breathing strategies helped expand chest volume in a group of people with COPD and reduced the number of breaths they needed to take. 

Using a fan

Various experts recommend using a fan to blow cool air and help relieve shortness of breath, and some older researchsupports this. Pointing a small handheld fan toward your face may help your symptoms.

Findings published in 2018 found using a fan helped people who had difficulty breathing due to late-stage cancer.

Drinking coffee

An early studyTrusted Source indicated that caffeine relaxes the muscles in the airways of people with asthma, which could help improve lung function for up to 4 hours. It does this by blockingTrusted Source the receptors of certain chemicals that contribute to shortness of breath.

But ask your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake. Because of its stimulant effects, consuming too much caffeine may haveTrusted Source a negative impact on your health, especially if you have heart disease.

Learn more about how caffeine affects the body.

Lifestyle changes to treat shortness of breath

There are many possible causes of shortness of breath, some of which are serious and require emergency medical care. If you know why you have difficulty breathing and the symptoms are mild, you can take steps to relieve it at home.

Lifestyle changes you can make to help keep shortness of breath at bay include:

• quitting smoking and avoiding tobacco smoke
• avoiding exposure to pollutants, allergens, and environmental toxins
• managing body weight
• avoiding exertion at high elevations
• staying healthy through dietary choices, exercise, and getting enough sleep
• seeing a doctor for any underlying medical issues
• getting vaccinations to prevent flu, COVID-19, and other diseases
• following the recommended treatment plan for any underlying illness like asthma, COPD, or bronchitis
• learning as much as you can about breathlessness, why it’s affecting you, and what your options are

Remember, only a doctor can properly diagnose the cause of your shortness of breath.

Learn about how to prepare for high altitudes if you have COPD.

Other treatments

If you see a doctor about shortness of breath, they’ll start by looking for any underlying health conditions that may be causing the problem. If they identify a specific cause, they’ll recommend suitable treatment.

Medications for shortness of breath

Medications for breathlessness include:

• inhaled medications that help open the airways
• drugs to treat specific conditions
• pills or liquids to help reduce sputum and clear the lungs
• drugs to manage allergies
• treatment for a heart condition

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Some people who have a lung condition benefit from a form of therapy known as pulmonary rehabilitation. A therapist will teach you ways to manage breathlessness. They can also advise on lifestyle choices like boosting fitness levels and quitting smoking, if appropriate.

Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you manage your breathing and may improve your overall wellbeing and quality of life.

Counseling

Counseling like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) might be suitable for some people with shortness of breath.

You might benefit from this approach if you:

• have a chronic lung disease that is causing your stress or anxiety
• have depression alongside or because of another condition
• have a panic or anxiety disorder
• wish to stop using tobacco but are finding it hard

CBT can help you find new ways to face stressful situations. This type of therapy can help address some of the factors that cause breathlessness or make it worse. Your doctor might recommend it alongside pulmonary rehabilitation.

Oxygen

People with severe breathing problems may need oxygen. Doctors can provide oxygen in the hospital, but some people use it at home. Never use oxygen at home unless a doctor advises it, and always follow the instructions when doing so.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or go directly to the emergency room if you:

• suddenly or unexpectedly find it hard to breathe without knowing why
• have trouble breathing and feel something is stuck in your throat
• don’t feel an improvement in your breathing after the problem starts
• have chest pain or another symptom

You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you:

• experience frequent or continued shortness of breath
• are awakened at night because you’re having trouble breathing
• experience wheezing (making a whistling sound when you breathe) or tightness in your throat

If you’re concerned about your shortness of breath and don’t already have a primary care professional, you can view doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

You should also see your doctor if your shortness of breath is accompanied by:

• swollen feet and ankles
• difficulty breathing while lying flat
• a fever with chills and a cough
• wheezing
• a worsening of your shortness of breath

Studies have shown that some people are unwilling to seek help. Those who use tobacco, for example, may feel it’s their fault and don’t want to bother others. But experts insist that anyone with concerns about their breathing should seek help.

A doctor can help you find ways of relieving breathlessness. If they identify an underlying cause, they can provide appropriate treatment.

Summary

Breathlessness can occur for many reasons, and relieving it may depend on the underlying cause. Home remedies, like deep breathing, using a hand fan, or changing position can often help you get your breath back.

But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a more serious condition. If the problem persists or if you have other symptoms, consider seeing a doctor. They can help you find relief and may suggest treatment for an underlying health condition.