Breathing after a spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries can cause difficulties with breathing (respiration) depending on where the injury occurs in your spinal cord. You may find:

• You become short of breath with exercise or activity
• It is more difficult for you to speak loudly or yell for attention
• Your cough is weaker
• You find it difficult to blow your nose properly
• Your lung volume is decreased

As a result of your spinal cord injury you will have noticed some effects on your ability to breathe. Depending on the level of your injury these will be different. Two major changes will occur, the most noticeable will be

1. Weakness of your breathing muscles and
2. Changes related to your autonomic nervous system