AML patients may experience anxiety with an AML diagnosis. Anxiety can present itself in forms such as frequent feelings of panic or worry, racing thoughts, muscle tension, feeling restless, and others. Heightened anxiety over long periods of time can decrease an individual's health as they are remaining in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Apart from including a mental health counselor on your care team, one side effect solution blood cancer patients recommended to reduce anxiety was a controlled breathing strategy called 4-7-8 breathing.
"The primary role of breathing is to absorb oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide through the movement of the lungs. Muscles that control the movement of the lungs are the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle underneath the lungs) and the muscles between the ribs. When a person is under stress, their breathing pattern changes. Typically, an anxious person takes small, shallow breaths, using their shoulders rather than their diaphragm to move air in and out of their lungs. This style of breathing disrupts the balance of gases in the body. Shallow over-breathing, or hyperventilation, can prolong feelings of anxiety by making the physical symptoms of stress worse. Controlling your breathing can help to improve some of these symptoms" (betterhealth).
The 4-7-8 breathing technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system which helps create a feeling of relaxed calm. This helps reduce anxious and stressed feelings associated with the sympathetic nervous system which releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
If you are unable to hold for 7 counts, simply adjust the ratio to inhale for 2 counts, hold for 3.5 counts, and exhale for 4 counts. Repeat as needed. If you feel lightheaded after multiple repetitions, stop the exercise.
Blood cancer patients have contributed other side-effect solutions they have found helpful in HealthTree's Side Effect Solutions page. See them here! Feel free to add your own as well.
AML patients may experience anxiety with an AML diagnosis. Anxiety can present itself in forms such as frequent feelings of panic or worry, racing thoughts, muscle tension, feeling restless, and others. Heightened anxiety over long periods of time can decrease an individual's health as they are remaining in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Apart from including a mental health counselor on your care team, one side effect solution blood cancer patients recommended to reduce anxiety was a controlled breathing strategy called 4-7-8 breathing.
"The primary role of breathing is to absorb oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide through the movement of the lungs. Muscles that control the movement of the lungs are the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle underneath the lungs) and the muscles between the ribs. When a person is under stress, their breathing pattern changes. Typically, an anxious person takes small, shallow breaths, using their shoulders rather than their diaphragm to move air in and out of their lungs. This style of breathing disrupts the balance of gases in the body. Shallow over-breathing, or hyperventilation, can prolong feelings of anxiety by making the physical symptoms of stress worse. Controlling your breathing can help to improve some of these symptoms" (betterhealth).
The 4-7-8 breathing technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system which helps create a feeling of relaxed calm. This helps reduce anxious and stressed feelings associated with the sympathetic nervous system which releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
If you are unable to hold for 7 counts, simply adjust the ratio to inhale for 2 counts, hold for 3.5 counts, and exhale for 4 counts. Repeat as needed. If you feel lightheaded after multiple repetitions, stop the exercise.
Blood cancer patients have contributed other side-effect solutions they have found helpful in HealthTree's Side Effect Solutions page. See them here! Feel free to add your own as well.
about the author
Megan Heaps
Megan joined HealthTree in 2022. As a writer and the daughter of a blood cancer patient, she is dedicated to helping patients and their caregivers understand the various aspects of their disease. This understanding enables them to better advocate for themselves and improve their treatment outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, and cooking.
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