Breathing pattern changes in lung disease: what you should know

If you have a lung condition like asthma, COPD, or bronchiectasis, your breathing can feel off even when your symptoms are under control. That’s often due to subtle changes in your breathing pattern, which can develop gradually and go unnoticed until they start interfering with daily life. You might not be able to put your finger on it, you just have a sense that your breathing doesn’t feel right or isn’t working as it should.

What is a breathing pattern?

Breathing pattern refers to the rhythm of how you breathe - how fast, how deep and how efficiently your body brings in oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. In healthy breathing, the diaphragm does most of the work. Your breath is quiet, regular and mostly through the nose.

But when you have a lung disease, this natural rhythm can be disrupted. You may start to rely more on your chest and shoulders, breathe through your mouth and take faster or shallower breaths. Over time, this can become your new “normal,” even though it’s less efficient.

Why does this happen?

Lung disease changes the mechanics of your breathing. Inflammation, mucus, airway narrowing or lung tissue damage makes breathing feel harder. Your body adapts by recruiting different muscles and altering your rhythm. While this helps in the short term, it can lead to longer-term problems.

You may also develop bad habits after a chest infection, during a period of stress or when you’re feeling anxious. Once these changes are in place, they can persist - even when the original problem that caused the changes has improved.

Common changes in breathing patterns

People with lung conditions might:

• Use upper chest muscles to breathe, rather than their diaphragm

• Breathe faster than necessary

• Breathe through the mouth instead of the nose

• Hold their breath without realizing

• Feel constantly short of breath, even at rest

• Sigh or yawn frequently

These aren’t just quirks. They’re signs that your body is working harder than it needs to just to keep your breathing going.

What does this feel like?

Breathing pattern disorders can cause symptoms that are easy to confuse with symptoms of lung disease, especially if your condition is worsening. You might notice:

• Chest tightness

• Fatigue, especially when talking or walking

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

• Tingling in your fingers or around your mouth

• Feeling anxious or panicky

  
  

What is important to note is that these symptoms aren’t always due to a change in your lung condition itself - they can be driven by how you’re breathing.

What impact can a poor breathing pattern have on lung disease?

Your lung conditions can become harder to manage if your breathing pattern is poor. If you’re not using your diaphragm properly, you’re not ventilating the lower parts of your lungs efficiently. That means less oxygen gets in and mucus may build up, especially in conditions like bronchiectasis.

In asthma, rapid upper chest breathing can trigger symptoms and make your airways feel tighter. In COPD, poor coordination between breathing in and breathing out can leave you feeling puffed out and frustrated.

Addressing your breathing pattern can reduce these sensations, even if the severity of your lung condition remains the same.

Get your breathing pattern back on track with respiratory physiotherapy

Recognising the signs and getting the right support can help you feel more comfortable, more in control and less breathless.

Breathing retraining with a respiratory physiotherapist can make a big difference. This isn’t about breathing more - it’s about breathing better. You’ll learn techniques to slow your breathing, switch to nose breathing and use your diaphragm more effectively.

Other helpful steps include:

• Postural adjustments: sitting or standing more upright can help your diaphragm move more freely

• Relaxation techniques: breathing exercises, mindfulness or gentle yoga can lower anxiety and reduce breathlessness

• Physical activity: regular, low-impact exercise at the right pace for your personal circumstances helps your breathing pattern become more automatic and efficient

Our respiratory physiotherapists are specialists trained in breathing pattern disorders and lung disease management so they are experts in identifying how to improve your breathing efficiency as well as optimising and maintaining your long term lung health. 

If you’ve noticed your breathing feels like it's become an effort, irregular or different from usual, it’s worth booking in for a Breathing MOT https://air-physiotherapy.carebit.co/patients/bookings/new