Chronic breathlessness is very difficult to live with. It has widespread effects on both patients and those who care for them. And yet there are many ways that people can learn to cope with it, including using breathing techniques, adopting comfortable positions and using handheld fans and mobility aids. General practice nurses (GPNs) and other healthcare professionals have a vital role in helping people to manage their breathlessness. First, GPNs should acknowledge that breathlessness is difficult to live with and tell their patients that it is right that they have raised it as an issue to be addressed. Then, they can help patients to learn to manage their breathlessness and guide them to other sources of information and support. Some healthcare professionals find it hard to talk about breathlessness, but if they can help patients to see that it is an expected symptom, which is manageable, this could have a huge effect on their lives and help them to learn to live well with the condition.