Menthol for the Relief of Dyspnea: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Kuheli Das Gupta, Kay Choong See
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the effects of menthol on dyspnea in patients with respiratory conditions and in lab-induced dyspnea scenarios. Eight randomized controlled trials were analyzed, revealing that menthol significantly improved dyspnea scores, with one study reporting a 42% reduction in scores for a specific subgroup. The findings suggest menthol is a safe and effective option for short-term relief of dyspnea.
Key findings
- Menthol reduced dyspnea scores by 42% in one subgroup and 19% in another during exercise.
- Four studies showed positive impacts on the sensory qualities of dyspnea measured by the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile.
- Kanezaki et al. reported a reduction of -2 in Borg scores at maximal time, indicating minimal clinical important difference.
- No significant adverse effects of menthol were documented in the studies.
Why it matters
Dyspnea significantly affects patients' quality of life, and effective management strategies are essential. This review highlights menthol as a potential non-pharmacological intervention that can provide symptomatic relief, which may be particularly beneficial in clinical settings.