Understanding Why Shortness of Breath Feels Different for Each Person

This research study is trying to understand why shortness of breath—a common and distressing symptom in lung diseases like COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis—feels and affects people so differently. Researchers will use a new 3D motion capture technique called optoelectronic plethysmography to measure how your breathing pattern changes during exercise, combined with other assessments, to understand the physical, psychological, and functional factors that influence how you experience breathlessness.

Currently, doctors treat shortness of breath with a 'one-size-fits-all' approach, but this study recognizes that each person's experience is unique and shaped by body, mind, and behavior. By exploring these connections, researchers hope to develop more personalized treatments that actually work for how you individually experience breathlessness.