Emotional breathlessness: 7 in 10 unaware of the hidden burden of chronic lung disease

Millions of people who are living with chronic lung conditions like COPD, asthma, and long COVID don’t just struggle with physical breathlessness, they also face emotional breathlessness.

Anxiety, fear, depression, and social isolation often go unseen and untreated, yet they have a profound impact on quality of life.

A recent nationwide survey of over 2,100 UK adults, commissioned by Dr. Devi Sundar founder of Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, based in Gloucestershire, reveals a striking lack of public awareness. 

Only 31% of adults recognise the emotional toll of chronic respiratory disease, leaving nearly seven in ten completely unaware.

The survey reveals striking patterns: younger adults (18–24 years) and men (28%) are least aware, while older adults (55+, 36%) and women (34%) are slightly more informed. Working-age adults are the most under-informed: only 14% are “very aware,” while one in four admits being “not aware at all.”

Life experience matters too. Separated or divorced adults (38%) and widowed individuals (33%) show higher awareness, likely reflecting personal illness or caregiving experiences. Married adults (29%) and parents (33%) are moderately aware, highlighting the need for targeted education in workplaces, families, and communities.

Regional differences add another layer: awareness is highest in Wales (37%), the South West (35%), and Northern Ireland (33%), and lowest in the South East (27%) and East of England (29%). These disparities show that public health messaging and local support services are unevenly reaching those who need them the most.

Emotional breathlessness isn’t just invisible, it can worsen physical symptoms, reduce treatment adherence, and delay help-seeking. 

Physical breathlessness can be treated, but anxiety, despair, and social isolation often go unnoticed. That’s why integrating mental health support into respiratory care is essential.

“Our findings show a significant gap in public perception, which can delay help-seeking and under-recognition of psychological distress in people with chronic respiratory illness,” Dr. Sundar, founder of Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, to That's Health.

"At Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, we combine psychotherapy, neuroscience, Ayurveda, and breath-based rehabilitation into trauma-informed, culturally sensitive programs. Patients who receive this integrated care cope better, recover faster, and feel less isolated. Treating mind and lungs together is not a luxury, it’s a necessity."

Immediate action is required:

1. Public awareness campaigns highlighting the emotional burden of chronic lung disease.

2. Psychological screening embedded into pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.

3. Clinician training in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.

4. Targeted funding for integrated mind–lung care models.

The mind and lungs are deeply connected through breath and the nervous system. Ignoring emotional suffering is no longer acceptable. Greater awareness, integrated care, and targeted funding could change the lives of millions across the UK.

Every breath matters,  it’s time our health system treats patients holistically, not just physically.

Support ther public awareness campaign“ Integrate Mental and Physical Health Care for COPD Patients in Gloucestershire” https://www.change.org/MentalHealthCOPD

Voices of Hope Charity announces launch of online breathing course

Everyone knows how to breathe, as it is the first thing we do after our birth. But for some people, after a long-term respiratory condition breathing no longer comes naturally, or easily. 

To help people with breathing difficulties Voices of Hope, the Kingston-upon-Thames based charity, today announced the launch of its informative Active Breathing Course (ABC) website.

The six-week online course, originally launched in 2021, is designed to help people who need to recover from long-term respiratory conditions and to help them manage their fatigue, stress and anxiety levels. It's approved by the NHS and is led and guided by specialist professional tutors.

Having run in excess of 60 courses in the three years since its original creation, ABC has nine expert tutors leading the sessions who have worked with in excess of 600 people.

89% of participants found the course to be either helpful or very helpful.

Over 60% said they'd noticed great or good improvement in their overall breathing capacity.

Whilst the course originally came about in response to the devastating symptoms and impact of long-Covid, the courses now help people with a range of ongoing respiratory illnesses, plus benefitting those who are struggling with anxiety disorders.

Explains Voices of Hope CEO, Sarah Clay, BEM: “Respiratory disease impact one in five people in the UK. It's actually the third largest cause of death throughout England. 

"Not only does it have a distressing impact on the lives of the people involved and their families, it also puts a massive economic strain on our Health Service, with the cost of asthma and COPD treatment alone estimated at a staggering £4.9 billion each and every year."

She went on to explain: "Through our Active Breathing Course, we aim to help people manage their symptoms via a range of techniques, including the teaching of Diaphragmatic Breathing, controlled breathwork and singing exercises to help to strengthen the intercostal muscle. And it's all done in a creative, inspiring and empowering way.

"The course has been shown to have a positive impact on our participants and we partner extensively with charities, healthcare providers (including hospitals, GPs and social prescribers) and businesses, too. As a charity we can offer individuals a cost-effective way of improving their breathing and quality of life.”

Sarah Clay continued: “ABC can also offer great benefits to businesses, too. With bespoke courses available, we support businesses in improving staff well-being. Benefits can include higher energy and better creativity levels; a reduction in stress and anxiety levels in the workplace; improved posture and the positive release of endorphins.”

For more information about the Active Breathing course visit www.voh.org.uk/abc.