Living with Mysterious Air Hunger: My Journey and Tips for Managing
Hi everyone,
In 2012, my life took an unexpected turn. Out of nowhere, I started experiencing a relentless feeling of air hunger—like I couldn’t take a satisfying breath no matter how hard I tried. It wasn’t just uncomfortable; it was scary, confusing, and exhausting.
Over the years, I’ve gone through a rollercoaster of tests, doctor visits, and moments of frustration, searching for answers. While there’s still no official diagnosis or definitive “fix” for what’s happening, I’ve learned how to live with this mysterious condition—and even thrive despite it.
If you’re interested in my full story, you can find the original discussion I started back in 2018 and tips I got from Connect members here: Mysterious Shortness of Breath
Now, I’d like to share what I’ve found most helpful in managing my air hunger. These aren’t magic cures (don’t we all wish?), but they’ve been game-changers for me in regaining a sense of control and living a good life:
- Buteyko Breathing Exercises – I discovered this breathing technique a few years ago, and it’s been a lifesaver for calming that panicked “I can’t breathe” feeling. It’s all about gentle, controlled breathing. It takes practice, but it works.
- Daily Walking – I make a point to walk every day, even if it’s just a short stroll. It’s not only good for my body but also helps keep my mind clear and calm.
- Moderate Exercise – Strength training has become a surprising ally. I stick to light-to-moderate weights and never push myself beyond what my breathing can handle.
- Listening to My Body – This one took time to learn. When my breathing tells me to slow down, I listen. And guess what? The world doesn’t end if I take a break.
- A Positive Mindset – This isn’t always easy, but I try to focus on what I can do instead of what I can’t. Gratitude and a sense of humor go a long way.
For those of you dealing with something similar: I see you, I understand the struggle, and I know how isolating it can feel. You’re not alone.
Let’s support each other and share what works. Who knows—maybe your experience or tips could be the breakthrough someone else needs.
- How do you manage your mysterious air hunger or breathing challenges?
- What’s helped you live well, even in the face of uncertainty?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.
do oximeter values negatively correlate with the amount of "air hunger"
Hi @bsi15. You know, that's an interesting one. If I follow what you're asking, I think your O2 saturation levels can be a good data point to help you determine if you have a breathing issue. Low O2 can mean many things so it's good to get checked out when oxygen measured by a pulse oximeter is lower than what it should be. In my case, when my air hunger first started, my O2 saturation was always at 100% which was not normal for me. My normal range was 93-95%. The high value indicated to me that I was possibly hyperventilating over time, expelling CO2 and causing O2 to climb. When I did breathing exercises to regulate my breathing, my O2 levels dropped to normal. So it's definitely something to think about how it can tell you something about your health.
so -I speculate- the air hunger is not due to some lack of oxygen
but rather some defect in the mechanism how you "detect" the necessity
of more air.
As with food hunger in some obese people.
You could also experiment a bit with an oxygen concentrator
Good ideas! I agree that there could very well be a problem with how oxygen is detected or perceived, since many people who have a sense of empty lungs or air hunger usually have normal test results, such as lung function tests and bloodwork. I think the breathing exercises I've done over the years have helped me sort or 'reset' whatever mechanism it may be so that I'm not always feeling that air hunger sensation. Also mentally, I've trained myself to know that I'm ok if I start to feel air hunger coming on and that also keeps it at bay.