Pins & Needles in lips & head

Hi! Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this when a bit short of breath? Seems to be happening every time to me now & its a really strange sensation - it goes off when my inhaler starts working - anyone know why this is happening or what is causing it? Thanks.

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heya, yeh ive had this before and was told that its caused by overbreathing/hyperventilating. The way to get rid of it is to try and slow your breathing right down and try and take as deep a breath as possible :o) x

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Hi mrsscoles,

Pins and needles in your lips and face, and also sometimes in your hands, sometimes with cramping and spasm of your hands, are all signs of hyperventilation or over-breathing, as nicki has said.

We all naturally breath faster when having a bad attack, as a natural physiological response, in order to maintain our oxygen levels in as normal a range as possible. This has the side effect, often, of blowing off too much carbon dioxide, which is disposed of when we breath. Low carbon dioxide in the blood can produce the symptoms you describe.

Sometimes, people get into the habit of over-breathing to excess, and adopting a very shallow pattern of breathing, using just the upper part of the chest. This can happen either because you are getting anxious or panicky (very understandable and almost unavoidable in an asthma attack - we all know how frightening they can be) or because you have just got into the habit of doing this. Over-breathing inappropriately in this way can make these symptoms come on very readily. When you use your inhaler, the breathlessness from the asthma attack eases, and you stop over-breathing, so the symptoms resolve.

There are exercises and breathing techniques that you can use to help to stop yourself over-breathing to an inappropriate amount, and getting these symptoms every time you have an attack. It is important, though, to get a proper assessment of your breathing before you start any program of breathing exercises. A doctor or physiotherapist should be able to assess whether you are likely to be over-breathing inappropriately and advise you on exercises to retrain yourself in the way that you respond to an attack and prevent this from happening.

In the mean time, I would advise that when you feel these symptoms coming on, you just try to concentrate on breathing slowly and calmly, breathing all the way out before taking a breath in. Sitting or lying comfortably with one hand on your upper chest, and one hand on your stomach, and trying to concentrate on making the hand on your stomach rise when you breath in, should help to ensure that you are taking deep breaths in.

Of course, if you are very breathless, unable to talk in sentences, your reliever inhaler is not working as well as usual, or you are otherwise concerned, you should seek emergency medical attention.

Hope this helps

Em H

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Thanks for the info & advice I will definately give it a try - I have just noticed now since you've said that Em H that I am definately only using the top part of my lungs as only my chest seems to inflate not my belly - this even when I am feeling ok. Will talk to asthma nurse about it when I go in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again Sarah x

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Hi Sarah,

Yes, breathing in this way is very common when you've experienced asthma or any other type of breathing disorder, and even if you haven't. Most of us have probably done it at one stage or another.

The good news is it is very fixable, although it often takes some practice in order to be able to apply it in an asthma attack. I try to do 10 - 15 minutes of conscious 'tummy breathing' with my hand on my tummy when I wake up in the morning, and last thing at night, and I do think it helps me to remember to do it more of the time during the day too.

It won't make the asthma go away, of course, but it should enable you to deal with the attacks more effectively, and hopefully get rid of these nasty tingling symptoms you're describing.

So do consult your doctor or asthma nurse - they may be happy to check your technique themselves and talk you through it, or they may refer you to a physio for them to check your breathing.

Take care

Em