ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews other treatments for relief of dyspnea beyond bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (Chapter 12), oxygen therapy (Chapter 13), and pulmonary rehabilitation (Chapter 14). The level of evidence supporting the efficacy of these other treatments varies considerably. Interventions such as pursed-lips breathing, body position, use of a fan to direct a flow of air toward the face, and music as a distracting stimulus are simple and inexpensive therapies that provide at least some relief or comfort for patients who experience breathing difficulty. Breathing a helium–oxygen gas mixture, noninvasive ventilatory support (NIVS), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) are adjuncts to exercise training/pulmonary rehabilitation that require specific equipment, technological support, and/or special expertise. Palliative care including opioid use (Chapter 16) should be considered along with and/or following application of these other treatments.
