Is your breathing pattern off? Here's what might be happening

If your breathing has felt uncomfortable lately or you're getting short of breath doing things that didn't used to bother you you've probably wondered what's going on.

The answer isn't always an obvious lung condition.

Sometimes the issue is the pattern of your breathing itself: the speed, the depth, the mechanics and the muscles you're using to do it.

What is a breathing pattern disorder?

A breathing pattern disorder (BPD) describes a change to the normal rhythm and mechanics of your breathing. Your lungs may be perfectly healthy, but the way you're breathing has shifted away from what's efficient.

This can produce a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Breathlessness at rest or with light activity

• Feeling like you can't get a full breath in

• Chest tightness

• Dizziness or light-headedness

• Fatigue

These symptoms are real. They're just not always explained by what shows up on standard medical tests - which is one of the reasons people with BPD can spend a long time searching for answers.

Why does it happen?

There's no single cause. Breathing pattern disorders can develop as a result of several overlapping factors.

Mechanical - if you've developed a habit of breathing with your upper chest and neck muscles rather than your diaphragm, this is less efficient and can place strain on the surrounding structures. Poor posture, prolonged sitting and previous injury can all play a role.

Chemical - illness, allergy or infection can temporarily alter how you breathe. For some people, even after the original cause has resolved, the changed pattern persists.

Psychological - stress and anxiety are closely linked to breathing. When you're anxious, your breathing tends to speed up and become shallower. Over time, this can become your body's default pattern, even when you're not stressed.

Often it's a combination of all three. And once an inefficient pattern becomes habitual, the body effectively learns it - making it harder to shift without seeing a specialist.

What does inefficient breathing actually mean?

Optimal breathing is slow, low and nasal. It uses the diaphragm as the primary muscle, moves air into the lower ribcage and maintains a steady rhythm.

When that pattern breaks down, even subtly, the body has to work harder to compensate. Breathing moves higher into the chest, the rate increases and the neck and shoulder muscles begin to work harder. This is tiring and it can alter the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood in ways that produce further symptoms.

One example is hyperventilation. This doesn't always look like a dramatic panic attack. Chronic low-level over-breathing is common, often goes unnoticed and can cause persistent symptoms including breathlessness, tingling, chest tightness and anxiety.

How does the Breathing MOT help?

The Breathing MOT is a detailed assessment of how you breathe. It's designed for people who know something feels off but haven't been able to pin down why.

During your assessment, a specialist respiratory physiotherapist will look at:

• Your breathing pattern at rest and during activity

• Whether you're using your diaphragm effectively, or relying on upper chest and accessory muscles

• Your breathing rate and the ratio of your breath in and out

• The movement of your ribcage and thoracic spine

• Physical measurements including oxygen levels, heart rate and peak flow

• Any psychological or lifestyle factors that may be influencing your breathing

This gives a complete picture of your breathing - not just of what's happening, but why.

After the assessment, you'll leave with a clear explanation of the findings, an understanding of what's driving your symptoms and a plan for what to do next.

For some people that's a course of breathing pattern re-education with one of our specialist physiotherapists.

For others it's onward referral to the right clinician.

Either way, you'll have answers.

Not every breathing problem shows up on a test

If your scans and spirometry have come back normal but your breathing still doesn't feel right, that doesn't mean nothing is wrong. It may mean the problem lies in how you're breathing, not in the structure of your lungs.

That's exactly what the Breathing MOT is designed to assess.

Book now at thebreathingmot.com, email info@thebreathingmot.com or call 020 7971 1464.