What to do if…
you develop sudden, new shortness of breath

What to do now

1. Check for emergency red flags now. Call 999 if any apply:
   • You are gasping, choking, or cannot get words out.
   • Your chest feels tight or heavy, or you have chest pain spreading to your arm, back, neck, or jaw.
   • Your lips or skin look very pale, blue, or grey. On brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms, soles, lips, gums, tongue, or inside the eyelids.
   • You feel suddenly confused, unusually drowsy, dizzy, faint, or you collapse.
2. If you are alone and calling 999, unlock the door if you can do this safely, sit upright near the entrance, keep your phone on speaker, and follow the call handler’s instructions.
3. If it is not clearly 999-level but it is new, sudden, or worrying, in England, Wales or Scotland, call 111. In England, you can also use 111 online. In Northern Ireland, use your GP out-of-hours or local urgent-care route. Say: “I have new sudden shortness of breath.” Mention any chest pain, fever, wheeze, coughing up blood, pain or swelling in one leg, swelling of lips or tongue, rash or hives, dizziness, recent illness, recent travel, or smoke or chemical exposure.
4. Sit upright and reduce effort. Lean slightly forward with your forearms supported on your knees or a table, loosen tight clothing around your neck and chest, and keep sentences short.
5. Use only your own prescribed rescue medicines if you have them. If you have prescribed rescue medicine for a breathing condition, use it only as prescribed or as your personal action plan says. Call 999 if symptoms are getting worse, the plan says to call, you do not have your rescue medicine, or it is not helping.
6. If you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as rapid swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a hoarse voice, widespread hives, or breathing trouble, use your adrenaline auto-injector if prescribed and call 999.
7. Gather essentials for clinicians without overexerting yourself: your medication list or medication boxes, allergies, and key conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, or previous clots. If you can, note the time it started and what changed just before it began.
8. If symptoms ease, do not cancel help without advice. New breathlessness can fluctuate, so continue with 999, 111, local urgent-care, or clinician advice unless they tell you otherwise.