A small study published in ERJ Open Research found that blowing air on the face from a small hand-held fan eased breathlessness in people with COPD during short walking periods. This new finding is significant in the context of limited workouts and walks among COPD or asthma patients as these often lead to breathlessness.    

To improve physical functioning and lung capacity, most COPD patients are suggested to do low-intensity exercise or yoga. This is limited by the breathlessness that most patients feel while working out or walking. 

“We hypothesised that fan therapy would reduce exercise-induced breathlessness and improve post-exercise recovery time in patients with COPD,” the researchers wrote in the report.