Education＆ScienceEducational Article

Comment by Mark Lavercombe: The researchers in this fascinating study induced dyspnoea using thoracoabdominal loading in 32 healthy adults without respiratory disease and with normal body mass index. High-flow nasal cannulae were used to administer either FiO2 21% or 100%. Visual analogue ratings of dyspnoea were completed, and showed both high-flow therapies were associated with reduction in symptoms, with no difference between FiO2 21% or 100%. There were also reductions in patient reported chest tightness and work/effort sensations. The authors hypothesise that the mechanism was reduction in afferent-reafferent mismatch. Further studies in patients with respiratory disease are recommended.