Can you hold your breath until you burst for another breath? This urgent feeling of needing to get more air is called “air hunger“.
You may feel this sensation when you exercise vigorously and push yourself to your limits. Your breathing will usually return to normal quickly once you stop exercising yourself.
But some people—like those living with lung disease or severe stress—often experience air hunger in their daily lives. Air hunger, sometimes described as “suffocating” or “suffocating” from lack of air, can be incredibly painful.
And it can be hard not to panic.
So what helps if you’re feeling air-hungry? And when should you get help?
What is hunger in the air?
Many conditions can cause shortness of breath (also called shortness of breath). These usually include heart disease and lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or long-term COVID.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, air hunger is not the same as shortness of breath.
Air hunger is an extreme and distinct characteristic of shortness of breath: the feeling that you cannot take in enough air or take a full breath.
This feeling can they make people Take longer breaths or breathe faster to try to get more oxygen. But this can actually make the feeling of shortness of breath worse. Some people may also find that they yawn or sigh a lot as they try to take in more air.
For some people, an episode may be brief and resolve on its own. Others may pass out and need immediate medical attention to regain breathing.
In addition to difficulty breathing, symptoms may include chest tightness, sweating, dizziness, and coughing. If you experience any of these symptoms, especially for the first time, you should seek immediate medical attention by calling triple 0.
Determining the cause
The key to dealing with air hunger is to understand what’s behind it. So a doctor will first try to identify the underlying cause.
Air hunger can occur as part of an acute condition that causes shortness of breath. For example, if you have a chest infection, you may have trouble breathing deeply and getting enough oxygen. When you recover from the disease, you may no longer feel the sensation that you cannot fill your lungs.
But air hunger can also be a feature of a chronic condition. Those living with serious heart or lung conditions – such as congestive heart failure or median lung conditions – they may never feel like they can take a deep breath or fill their lungs completely. This can significantly limit their ability to exercise or participate in daily activities.
Living me mental health conditions such as an anxiety or panic disorder can also mean frequent episodes of air hunger.
Even when air hunger goes away on its own, you should see your doctor for further evaluation to identify the cause and work out how to manage it.
What will a doctor look at?
Your doctor will usually observe your breathing rate and ask about your symptoms, how often you are gasping for air and how distressing it is.
They may also ask you to rate your breathlessness using a Borg scalewhich involves choosing a number on the scale to best describe how short of breath you feel.
Your doctor will also measure vital signs such as your pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels. Oxygen saturation means how much oxygen is entering your bloodstream and can be measured with a device called a pulse oximeter.
If you have been experiencing shortness of breath regularly for at least six weeks, you may need further tests. A pulmonary function test or exercise stress test can provide a comprehensive report on your lung capacity and how well your lungs and heart work under stress. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist.
What helps?
Depending on the cause, you may be prescribed medication, such as inhalers or oxygen for a lung condition. Opioids (morphine) or benzodiazepines (diazepam) can relieve symptoms, but these will only be used in the in the short termbecause of the risk of doing so dependent.
In addition to medication, breathing and relaxation techniques may help some people manage the unpleasant sensation. These include:
- pursed-lipped breathing: crumple your lips and focus on letting the air out slowly until you can take a big breath
- conscious breathing: find a relaxed resting position where you can bring your attention to your breathing and focus on regaining control of your breathing rate
timed breathing: as you move, time your breath with your body. For example, focus on exhaling when stepping in with your right foot and inhaling when stepping out with the left
the cool fan technique: hit a fan (electric or handheld) directly to your face. The cool air stimulates the nerves on the face to reduce the feeling of shortness of breath. A cool face wash can help create the same effect.
When to ask for help
To manage episodes of air hunger, you should follow your healthcare professional’s advice about how and when to take medication.
Your doctor will also provide you with a management plan to guide you and your loved ones on what to do when you have an episode of air hunger. Check in regularly with your doctor as the plan may need updating if or when your condition changes.
In an emergency, or if you’re gasping for air for the first time, always call triple 0.
