
	3D Medical Animations Close This information is provided by an independent source. Merck & Co. does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy of the content, or for the practices or standards of non-Merck sources. This information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product. How to use How to use The world's largest library of 3D medical animations developed and copyrighted by Blausen Medical Communications. The Human Atlas figures rotating model, labeled slides, and printable text in addition to animated videos. Shows a video of the selected health topic. Controls play, pause, and restart of the video. Shows a summary of the selected health topic. Controls to scroll the text. Shows a 3 D model of the video. Controls to rotate the model. Shows slides from the video. Controls to change slides.

You are trying to load Blausen Medical's Human Atlas.

Either you do not have the newest version of Adobe Flash®, or you have JavaScript disabled.

To use Blausen's Atlas software, you must ensure you have these capabilities.

Health Resources

MedlinePlus®

Resource Library

A.D.A.M. Main Index

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck & Co., Inc. is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

•	Encyclopedia Home
•	Self-Care A-Z
•	Read Spanish version

Images

Pursed lip breat...

Care Points

•	Chronic obstructive pulmona...
•	Interstitial lung disease -...
•	Chronic obstructive pulmona...
•	Chronic obstructive pulmona...
•	Lung surgery - discharge ...

•	Lung surgery
•	Chronic obstructive pulmona...
•	Cystic fibrosis
•	Diffuse interstitial lung d...
•	Pneumonia
•	Bronchiolitis
•	Breathing difficulty

More Features

•	Printer-friendly version

How to breathe when you are short of breath

Alternate Names

Pursed lip breathing

When to Use Pursed Lip Breathing

Pursed lip breathing helps you use less energy to breathe. It can help you relax. When you are short of breath, it helps you slow the pace of your breathing.

Use pursed lip breathing when you do things that make you short of breath:

Exercising
Bending
Lifting
Climbing stairs

You can practice pursed lip breathing anytime. Try to practice 4 or 5 times a day when:

You are watching TV.
You are using your computer.
You are reading a newspaper.

How to Do Pursed Lip Breathing

Relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Sit in a comfortable chair with your feet on the floor.

Do these steps in this order:

Breathe in (inhale) slowly through your nose for 2 counts.
Feel your belly get larger as you breathe in.
Pucker your lips, as if you were going to whistle or blow out a candle.
Breathe out (exhale) slowly through your lips for 4 or more counts.

Exhale normally. Do not force the air out. Do not hold your breath when you are doing pursed lip breathing. Repeat these steps until your breathing slows.

Review Date: 10/10/2008
Reviewed By: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP, Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed HealthCare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Search MerckSource