I’ve been focusing a decent amount of content as of late on the topic of hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the various ways in which both can affect someone who has either.
Most people who have a proper comprehension of hypermobility understand that it can affect cartilage and joints in the body. I would wager, though, that a lot of people are not aware that being hypermobile can even affect breathing.
I am hypermobile, and I have been for most of my life. My hypermobility has increased over the last five years or so, and while I’m not certain, I think it is linked to getting Lyme disease back in 2019, roughly. I have had issues with slipping and dislocated ribs, as well as broken cartilage and torn intercostal muscles, for most of my rugby career, and recently, I’ve noticed that if I am sitting a certain way, I have a lot of difficulty getting a full, deep breath into my lungs.
I was trying to see if I could find any answers online about not being able to breathe to my full extent and came across some information regarding a condition called Dyspnea. Check out the following information about it from my.clevelandclinic.org.
“Dyspnea (pronounced ‘DISP-nee-uh’) is the word healthcare providers use for feeling short of breath. Shortness of breath can feel different from person to person and depending on what’s causing it. It might feel like:
- You can’t get enough air
- Your chest is tight
- You’re working harder to breathe or to get a full breath
- You need to force a deep breath,” the web page explains.
Now that we have an understanding of what this sensation is called, consider the following excerpt from jeanniedibon.com.
“If you have EDS or HSD, have you ever experienced that feeling of not being able to take a deep breath or feeling breathless and anxious about breathing?
“Maybe you feel your chest is quite tight and your shoulders are tense. Sometimes, people also report finding it difficult to take a full exhale – like the breath gets stuck almost and excess force is needed to force the breath out.
“For people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), this experience is actually quite common. It is not just down to anxiety (it’s NOT all in your head!!) or poor posture – although they will be impacting our breath.
“There is also a deeper connection between breathing pattern disorders and hypermobility. It makes sense too – our connective tissue is everywhere in our body. It could also impact our lungs, our airways, our nasal cavities, and our diaphragm,” the web page states.
Check back tomorrow for part two.
Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash
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