Talking can increase the number of breaths a person needs. If this happens, wait quietly until his or her breathing slows. Open a window or use a fan to get air moving in the room. Air moving through a room helps a person to feel less short of breath. In the winter, use a humidifier or place pans of water near radiators.
People often breathe through their mouths when they are short of breath.
This causes dryness in the mouth, but moistening the air being breathed can help. Humidifiers or pans of water placed near radiators help to loosen mucus and moisten the dry throat and nasal passages. If a cough brings up thick phlegm from the lungs, a humidifier can help to loosen that phlegm as well. Offer throat lozenges or hard candy to help with dry throats. Sucking lozenges or candy often helps a dry throat, because it increases the production of saliva, which moistens the throat when swallowed.