Effect of listening to breathing recordings on self-reported breathlessness: a public experiment

Citation: Lovell, N., Etkind, S. N., Davies, J. M., Prentice, W., Higginson, I. J., & Sleeman, K. E. (2023). Effect of listening to breathing recordings on self-reported breathlessness: a public experiment. The European respiratory journal, 62(1), 2201439.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01439-2022

Breathlessness is a common and persistent symptom for those living with chronic lung conditions and advanced disease. It can be distressing for those who experience it, and often results in anxiety, physical inactivity and a poorer quality of life. Additionally, it impacts significantly on those who are close, including friends and family, and is associated with a considerable care burden.

This public experiment – a collaboration between the Cicely Saunders Institute and Science Gallery London – found that listening to audio recordings of breathlessness resulted in a noticeable increase in self-reported breathlessness.